THE  KING  WHO  CAME 


OP  CALIF.   LlBKAItf,   LOS 


THE   KING  WHO  CAME 

A  Tale  of  the  Great  Revolt 


BY 

JOSEPH  W.  SHARTS 

Author  of  "  The  Vintage,"  "Ezra  Caine," 
"  The  Black  Sheep,' '  "  The  Ro- 
mance of  a  Rogue  " 


NEW  YORK 

DUFFIELD  &  COMPANY 
1913 


COPYRIGHT.  1918 
BY  DUFFIELD  &  COMPANY 


TO 
WILLIAM  AND  CLARA  HILBERT 

WHO.  AT  THE  TIME  OF  THE  GREAT  DAYTON  FLOOD. 

ALTHOUGH  I  WAS  NO  STRANGER.  TOOK  ME  IN, 

THIS  BOOK    IS  AFFECTIONATELY 

DEDICATED 


2132GS9 


CONTENTS 
PART  I 

PAGE 

PBINCE  HYRCANUS 1 

PART  II 
BETHANY 129 

PART  III 

THE  PASSOVER  .   201 


THE   KING  WHO   CAME 

A  Tale  of  the  Great  Revolt 


PART  ONE 
PRINCE  HYRCANUS 


ANNAS,   the   chief  priest,   came  forth  from  his 
great  stone  house  in  the  Upper  City  of  Jeru- 
salem, and  walked  unattended  through  the  mar- 
ket-place. 

It  was  the  hour  of  sunset.  Above  the  city  walls  at 
the  Joppa  Gate  the  west  had  reddened  like  a  bride  to 
receive  the  sun.  Cool  breezes  blew  down  from  the 
grey-green  Mount  of  Olives.  On  the  narrow  streets 
and  open  market-place  buyers,  sellers,  and  beggars 
swarmed  and  chattered  among  the  stalls  and  striped 
awnings  of  the  bazaars  in  a  riot  of  brilliant  colours  and 
excited  gestures. 

Jerusalem,  the  crossing-place  of  nations,  opened  her 
gates  to  innumerable  caravans  of  rich  cargoes  from 
Asia  and  Africa.  All  peoples  and  tongues  met  and 
mingled  on  her  thoroughfares.  The  Greek's  snowy 
tunic,  the  graceful  scarf  and  broidery  of  the  Arab, 
the  bright  cloak  of  the  sea-faring  Phoenician,  and  the 


more  sombre  garb  of  Egypt  set  off  the  prevailing  cos- 
tume of  the  Jew. 

Water-carriers  clinked  their  little  brass  discs. 
Wine-sellers  cried  incessantly  in  shrill  monotones. 
Porters  trotted  busily  to  and  fro  under  burdens  with 
their  coarse  brown  robes  girded  up  around  their  mus- 
cular loins. 

At  this  hour  many  hundreds  of  sunburnt  peasants 
who  had  come  in  to  market  from  the  neighbouring  vil- 
lages of  Bethlehem,  Mispeh,  and  Bethany,  were  going 
home.  Their  troops  of  unladened  asses  braying  joy- 
fully clattered  away  through  white  dust-clouds.  A 
line  of  camels  with  empty  grain-sacks  spread  across 
their  humps  was  filing  out  through  the  Gennath  Gate, 
each  grotesque  head  tied  to  its  predecessor's  tail. 

Everywhere  beggars  howled  and  showed  their  sores. 

Annas  moved  through  the  clamour,  serene  and  stately 
under  a  shower  of  respectful  salutations.  His  dignity 
was  adorned  by  that  perfect  flower  of  courtesy  char- 
acteristic of  the  high-class.  Jew.  He  spared  neither 
smiles  nor  gracious  bows. 

The  great  leader  of  the  Pharisees  —  the  real  High- 
priest  still  in  power  and  popular  esteem,  although  for 
reasons  of  state  he  had  relinquished  the  title  —  was  a 
man  of  majestic  stature.  His  frame  was  naturally 
gaunt.  It  had  become  rounded  a  little  at  the  abdomen 
from  good  living,  but  without  diminishing  the  com- 
manding effect  of  his  general  appearance.  His  outer 
robe  was  of  dark  rich  Tyrian  cloth,  his  inner  garment 
of  fine  linen  freshly  laundered,  sunbleached,  and  spot- 
less. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  8 

A  flowing  white  beard  gave  to  his  face  a  tone  im- 
pressively venerable;  but  the  high  shapely  nose  and 
the  eyes  dark,  luminous,  and  sparkling,  revealed  un- 
diminished  fires  of  energy.  On  his  forehead  hung 
black  cylinders  of  calfskin  —  phylacteries  whose 
breadth  betokened  his  austere  piety  and  observance 
of  religious  duties. 

As  he  traversed  the  market-place  he  pocketed  his 
hands  in  his  long  linen  sleeves  to  protect  them  from 
dust  and  sunburn.  When  he  saluted  some  one  or  gave 
alms,  it  might  be  seen  they  were  white,  with  delicate 
blue  veins,  the  fingers  long,  slender,  and  flexible.  On 
his  right  forefinger  a  ruby  set  in  a  circlet  of  gold 
glowed  like  a  drop  of  blood. 

"  Rabbi !  —  Rabboni !  —  Master !  "  assailed  his  ears 
from  all  sides. 

The  horde  of  frantic  beggars  volleyed  frantic  bless- 
ings and  appeals. 

"  Lord !     Lord !  in  thy  prosperity  remember  us !  " 

He  bestowed  alms  on  the  more  importunate  liberally 
but  not  lavishly.  Wealth  had  not  made  him  careless 
of  money.  Annas  was  indeed  the  embodiment  of  the 
ruling  spirit  of  Jerusalem  —  the  Pharisee  faction,  the 
party  of  the  prosperous  traders,  merchants,  and  land- 
lords. 

In  the  open  square  of  the  Fruit  Market  a  dusty 
greyish  camel  with  shaggy  tufts  of  sand-yellow  hair 
knelt  on  the  stone  pave,  groaning  and  flapping  its 
loose  lips  at  flies.  On  its  hump  hung  a  pair  of  wooden 
panniers,  almost  empty,  containing  grapes. 

As  Annas  passed  by  in  the  crowd,  a  bunch  of  these 


4  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

grapes  in  a  swarthy  hand  was  thrust  suddenly  under 
his  nose. 

"  Grapes !  Purple  grapes ! "  shouted  a  stentorian 
voice.  "  Grapes,  O  Abba !  Grapes  of  Esdraelon ! 
Like  unto  the  curtain  of  Solomon  are  they!  The 
colour  of  kings'  robes!  On  the  slopes  of  Tabor  they 
laughed  saying,  We  are  not  of  the  poor  south  country ! 
—  we  are  of  Galilee !  We  are  not  for  the  bellies  of 
mean  men  —  but  for  the  lips  of  the  anointed  —  even 
great  Annas ! " 

The  priest  frowned  at  this  loquacious  impudence, 
then  started,  and  flung  a  keen  look  at  the  shouter. 

"  The  colour  of  kings'  robes,  sayest  thou  ?  I  will 
buy  thy  wares,  O  fountain  of  words."  He  tossed  the 
man  a  silver  denarius,  scarcely  glancing  at  the  grapes, 
which  indeed  were  half  withered.  "  Nadab,"  said  he 
in  a  lower  tone,  "  art  thou  returned  at  last !  Follow, — 
at  a  distance, —  that  thou  be  not  observed." 

Their  eyes  encountered.  Between  them  flew  a  swift 
sharp  meaning  which  both  were  at  pains  to  hide  from 
by-standers.  Annas  strode  on. 

The  seller  of  grapes,  having  humbled  himself  into 
the  dust  a  moment,  sprang  up,  and  began  to  beat  and 
lustily  kick  the  kneeling  camel. 

"  Rise,  O  wind-drinker !  Rise  quickly,  grumbler ! 
Rejoice  with  me!  Up,  Esau!  —  hairy  one!  Who 
art  thou  to  snore  and  grunt  thus  beneath  the  sun! 
Hath  not  the  Lord's  anointed  deigned  to  look  upon 
such  an  unclean  thing  as  thou!  Up  and  rejoice!  Be- 
hold our  silver  denarius !  O  day  of  j  oy !  O  day  of 
fatness !  '* 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  5 

He  goaded  the  ungainly  beast  to  its  feet,  seized  the 
check-rein  which  hung  from  its  tinkling  head-harness 
of  tarnished  tin-pieces  and  leather  strings,  and  bawling 
for  passageway  led  it  through  the  crowd. 

The  man  was  of  an  undersized  figure  with  a  crooked 
shoulder,  his  skin  burnt  black  by  sun  and  desert  winds. 
His  raiment  was  a  coarse  burnoose  of  dirt-hued  cloth, 
belted  by  a  leather  girdle  such  as  only  the  poorest 
would  wear.  His  lean  strong  legs  were  naked,  his  feet 
shod  with  wooden  sandals. 

The  small  dusky  face  which  peered  out  from  under 
a  wild  black  mop  of  wiry  hair  was  quick  and  cunning. 
A  pair  of  white  eyeballs  gleamed  with  an  odd  sort  of 
dancing  madness. 

By  an  indirect  course  around  the  square,  to  avoid 
notice,  this  man,  leading  his  camel,  followed  Annas, 
but  presently  found  his  progress  checked. 

A  silken  palanquin  came  across  the  market-place, 
borne  high  on  the  shoulders  of  eight  Nubian  slaves,  its 
purple  curtains  blowing  and  bellying  on  the  breeze. 
Servants  ran  before  it  with  gilded  wands  and  struck 
briskly  to  clear  a  lane  through  the  swarms  of 
people. 

"Way!"  they  shouted.  "Way  for  the  Lady 
Salome !  Way  for  the  royal  daughter  of  Herodias !  " 

A  score  of  dismounted  Trachonitian  spearsmen, 
fierce  warlike  fellows  in  peaked  iron  caps,  trooped  be- 
fore and  behind  the  palanquin. 

Inside  it  a  woman  lolled  on  downy  cushions.  All 
eyes  were  drawn  to  her  as  to  a  candle  lighted  in  a 
dark  house.  One  oval  cheek  leaned  languidly  on  a 


6  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

jewel-bedecked  hand.  Her  large  scornful  voluptuous 
eyes  turned  on  the  staring  cheering  crowds  as  on  a 
thrice-repeated  play. 

That  proud  face  was  like  a  flower  of  the  passion- 
vine.  Its  beauty  haunted  and  disquieted.  In  the  lines 
of  the  calm  red  mouth  and  smooth  low  brow  under  its 
dusky  aureole  of  hair  seemed  to  lurk  the  slumberous 
cruelty  of  a  fed  tiger.  The  indolent  attitude  of  her 
sleek  white  body,  only  partly  veiled  by  a  gauze  of 
Damascus  lace,  disclosed  a  grace  rather  feline  than 
human.  She  carelessly  exposed  her  shining  bare  limbs, 
adorned  by  golden  anklets  and  jewels,  upon  her  couch, 
either  from  a  superb  disdain  of  the  vulgar  gaze  or 
shameless  immodesty. 

Annas  had  already  passed  from  the  market-place  into 
the  narrow  Street  of  the  Coppersmiths,  when  the  regal 
palanquin  appeared.  But  the  grape-seller  and  his 
dusty  camel  were  among  those  thrust  rudely  back  by 
Salome's  servants. 

The  rabble,  especially  the  beggars,  flung  up  their 
caps  —  those  who  had  them  —  clapped  their  hands  at 
the  spectacle,  and  screamed  praises  and  prayers. 

Loudest  of  all  soared  the  voice  of  the  grape-seller. 

Tugging  at  his  camel's  bridle  he  pushed  in  near  to 
the  passing  palanquin,  kicking  aside  a  cripple  who 
with  shrieks  for  alms  held  up  a  wooden  bowl. 

"Hail,  O  flower  of  Jericho!  Hail!"  thundered  the 
grape-seller.  "  In  the  kings'  paradise  what  rose  is  like 
unto  thee !  O  lamp  of  the  ivory  palaces !  O  moon 
amongst  the  lords  of  men !  Kneel,  Esau ! "  he  ex- 
claimed, thumping  the  camel.  "  Kneel,  fool !  Hide 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  7 

thine  ugly  face  in  dust!  It  is  no  mean  person  —  it  is 
the  royal  Lady  Salome  who  passes  by !  Who  art  thou, 
O  wretched  dirt-treader  of  Gilead,  that  thou  darest  to 
gaze  on  such  loveliness  unabased ! " 

This  stentorian  noise  overrode  the  tumult  of  other 
voices  as  the  lion's  roar  subdues  the  cries  of  lesser 
beasts. 

It  served  to  catch  the  languid  eye  of  the  daughter 
of  Herodias.  Her  scarlet  lips  parted  in  a  quickened 
look. 

She  motioned  to  the  huge  black  eunuch  who  stalked 
with  drawn  scimitar  beside  her  couch.  The  negro 
clapped  a  silver  whistle  to  his  thick  lips  and  blew. 

The  bearers  halted. 

They  must  have  halted  at  that  moment  anyhow; 
for  an  authority  loftier  even  than  that  of  kings  just 
then  claimed  precedence. 

A  brazen  trumpet  pealed.  The  stones  of  the  mar- 
ket-place rang  to  the  measured  tramp  of  iron  legion- 
aries. A  thicket  of  slanted  spears  moved  by  above  the 
gaudy  mantles,  scarfs,  turbans,  and  craning  heads  of 
the  crowd.  One  caught  the  glint  of  tufted  helmets, 
and  saw  lifted  in  the  van  the  gilt  eagles  and  globes  of 
the  conquerors  of  the  world.  It  was  the  Roman  guard 
marching  from  the  citadel  of  Antonia  to  relieve  the 
sentries  posted  on  the  many-towered  walls. 

The  people  surged  back  from  the  inflexible  path  of 
the  foreign  soldiery.  They  lined  the  way,  gazing  on 
the  military  pomp  with  a  hate  which  vented  itself  in  an 
occasional  hiss  or  muttered  curse,  not  too  loud. 

Amid  the  stifling  press  and  confusion,  Salome  beck- 


8 

oned  to  the  grape-seller,  who  squirmed  to  the  side  of 
the  palanquin. 

"  O  fairest  palm-tree  in  the  garden  of  kings ! "  said 
he,  bending  low.  "  Thy  servant  draweth  near,  although 
his  eyes  be  dazzled." 

Under  his  crooked  shoulder  he  cast  anxious  squints 
stealthily  after  Annas ;  but  the  chief  priest  had  already 
gone  beyond  seeing. 

"  Art  not  thou  that  one  called  Nadab  ?  "  asked  the 
Lady  Salome  in  a  guarded  tone. 

"  Nadab, —  poorest  of  camel-drivers !  —  most  faith- 
ful of  great  Salome's  servants !  —  Nadab,  whose  feet  are 
swifter  and  more  tireless  than  the  hart's  to  do  her  bid- 
ding!" 

"  Hast  thou  gathered  me,  then,  news  of  the  robbers 
of  Gilead?  " 

"  Thy  servant  cometh  as  a  well  of  living  waters.  He 
bringeth  secrets  precious  as  kings'  ransoms  every  one 
a  lord  over  an  hundred  fenced  cities !  When  thou  near- 
est the  least  of  my  news,  thou  shalt  laugh  in  thine  heart 
saying,  '  This  dog  pleaseth  me  well !  —  give  unto  him 
straightway  five  silver  mince.' ' 

An  eager  look,  repressed  with  difficulty,  quivered  on 
the  smooth  dark  face  of  the  royal  lady.  She  leaned 
forward  and  down,  breathing  more  quickly.  Her  splen- 
did eyes  flashed. 

"  Concerning  young  Hyrcanus  who  would  be  king, — 
what  hast  thou !  " 

But  the  information  was  not  to  be  thus  freely  ob- 
tained. 

"  Thy  servant's  tongue  is  stupefied  with  amazement 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  9 

% 

contemplating  the  gold  wherewith  thy  munificence  will 
reward  the  bearer  of  such  tidings  as  thy  servant  bring- 
eth  concerning  the  prince  Hyrcanus." 

Salome's  eyebrows,  whose  natural  darkness  had  been 
further  heightened  by  the  pencil,  drew  ominously  to- 
gether.  But  she  stripped  from  her  finger  a  broad  gold 
ring  and  dropped  it  into  the  man's  brown  palm. 

"  To-night,  Nadab,"  she  murmured.  "  This  signet 
will  open  for  thee  the  porter's  gate.  Come  secretly, — 
after  the  second  watch.  If  thou  bring  me  indeed  tidings 
of  Prince  Hyrcanus  worthy  of  reward,  thou  shalt  not 
depart  unrejoicing." 

The  dense  array  of  legionaries  had  tramped  on  to- 
wards Zion  hill,  whose  white  palaces  gleamed  in  the 
sunset.  The  crowd,  relieved  of  its  pressure,  was  now 
flowing  in  over  the  track.  As  Salome  settled  languidly 
among  her  cushions,  the  eunuch  again  blew  his  silver 
whistle. 

The  silken  palanquin  moved  forward,  dancing  like  a 
bright  flame  above  the  tossing  heads. 

Nadab  plucked  at  his  camel's  bridle  and  hurried  after 
Annas  into  the  Street  of  the  Coppersmiths. 

"  Stir  thy  bones,  Esau !  "  he  muttered.  "  Old  velvet- 
footed  tower  of  hair !  We  move  in  great  affairs,  Esau, 
—  even  in  kings*  matters !  Wilt  thou  increase  thy 
speed,  idler !  —  or  shall  I  put  pepper  in  thy  tail ! " 


n 

IN  a  large  chamber  lighted  by  candles  and  well  fur- 
nished for  entertainment,  were  assembled  a  dozen 
men,  the  most  opulent  and  influential  of  the  Phari- 
sees of  Jerusalem.  For  privacy  in  conference  they 
sought  this  quiet  meeting-place  and  even  eschewed  the 
housetop,  the  customary  resort  at  the  cool  of  the  day. 

A  comely  slave-woman  glided  amongst  them  with 
downcast  eyes,  pouring  wine  from  a  silver  urn  which 
she  bore  gracefully  on  her  hip. 

"  Peace  be  unto  you,"  said  Annas  at  the  doorway, 
entering. 

They  set  down  their  cups  noisily,  crying, — 

"  And  unto  thee,  Annas !     Unto  thee,  Abba !  " 

They  came  forward  to  salute  him. 

He  stretching  out  his  beautiful  white  hand  on  which 
the  bloodlike  ruby  flamed,  blessed  them. 

On  all  of  them  alike  fell  his  pleasant  smiling  benedic- 
tion. 

Yet  if  a  larger  share  was  bestowed  on  one  than 
another,  it  went  to  a  thin  oddly  elusive  figure  in  sombre 
garments  that  emerged  but  for  a  moment  from  the  dark 
corner  behind  the  door. 

It  was  near  this  elusive  figure  that  Annas  chose  to 
sit,  putting  himself  a  little  in  front  of  it;  and  in  the 
council  which  ensued,  a  bald  emaciated  head,  ghastly 

pale,  projected  now  and  then  over  the  priest's  shoulder, 

10 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  11 

to  murmur  in  his  ear  or  glance  with  furtive  hollow  eyes 
about  the  room. 

Caiaphas,  the  titular  Highpriest  and  son-in-law  of 
Annas,  suddenly  focussed  attention  by  a  loud  remark 
which  referred  to  the  discussion  interrupted  by  Annas's 
coming. 

"  But  I ! "  he  cried,  holding  his  cup  to  be  refilled. 
"  I  would  take  hold  of  the  ends  of  Galilee  and  shake 
those  innovators  out  of  it  as  out  of  a  cloth ! " 

The  Highpriest,  who  owed  his  title  to  family  influ- 
ences, was  a  man  of  some  forty  years,  full-fleshed  and 
black-bearded.  His  florid  skin,  pouting  red  lips,  and 
frequent  violent  gestures  revealed  his  passionate  dis- 
position. 

His  remark  drew  vociferous  exclamations  from  all 
sides : 

"  Seditious  fellows !  —  Vain  speakers !  —  Ambitious 
underlings !  " 

"  The  foolish  and  idle  are  led  astray  by  them  like 
swine  out  of  a  fenced  place  with  plentiful  draff,  to  starve 
in  the  desert." 

"  They  would  burn  the  granary  to  warm  their  hands !  '* 

"  By  great  promises  to  the  ignorant  and  discontented 
they  hope  to  gain  power  for  themselves." 

"  Shirkers !  Envying  the  fruits  of  the  industry  of 
others ! " 

"  Let  them  be  whipped  back  to  their  proper  labours ! " 

Calmer  voices  began  to  be  heard : 

"  All  this  feeds  the  designs  of  young  Hyrcanus.  He 
draws  the  discontented  unto  him  with  sweet  words  like 
honey." 


12  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"  Nay, —  the  prince  hath  small  force  since  Herod 
Antipas  beat  back  his  last  incursion." 

"Hast  thou  not  heard!  Barabbas  joineth  his  band 
unto  Hyrcanus  vowing  to  seat  him  on  the  throne  of 
his  fathers." 

"  The  robbers  are  bold  only  in  their  hill-fastnesses  of 
Gilead.  .  .  ." 

"  Tithes,  the  burden  of  the  Roman  tax,  the  failure 
of  the  barley  crop, —  these  are  the  seeds  of  the  discon- 
tent. The  multitude  is  clamorous  for  change.  They 
cry  for  a  new  kingdom.  Hyrcanus  uses  the  general 
ferment  as  yeast  for  his  own  bread.  He  setting  forth 
his  ancient  Asmonean  rights  claims  the  throne  and  prom- 
ises marvellous  reforms.'* 

The  last  speaker  had  been  Phinehas  the  Scribe,  a 
bald-browed  man  with  a  cool  persuasive  manner,  a  lead- 
ing member  of  the  Sanhedrim. 

"  Slothfulness !  "  exclaimed  Caiaphas  clenching  a 
plump  fist  to  smite  his  knee.  "  They  wax  querulous  and 
indolent  from  long  peace,  and  mutter  against  those  in 
authority!  They  think  to  live  sumptuously  without 
labour!  Were  the  sharp  Roman  spears  in  Galilee,  as 
in  Judea.  .  .  ." 

"  I  have  word  concerning  young  Hyrcanus  who  would 
be  king." 

Annas's  quiet  words,  directed  chiefly  to  the  emaciated 
spectre  in  the  corner,  struck  a  sudden  hush  upon  the 
room.  Then  several  eager  voices: 

"  What  of  Hyrcanus !  " 

*'  Nadab  the  camel-driver,  who  hath  before  brought 
me  news  for  a  price,  waiteth  without." 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  13 

"  Let  us  hear  his  tidings !  " 

The  misshapen  camel-driver,  in  his  coarse  burnoose, 
entered  cringing,  and  prostrated  himself  before  them. 
His  white  eyeballs  flickered  through  his  tangled  hair 
as  he  darted  sly  glances  from  one  proud  countenance  to 
another. 

"  What  is  your  servant  that  my  lords  should  look  on 
such  a  dead  dog  as  I  am ! "  he  inquired  in  a  doleful 
tone. 

"  We  would  learn  of  the  unrest  in  Galilee,"  said  An- 
nas. 

"  Nay,  I  would  speak  at  my  lord's  bidding,  but  I 
have  swallowed  the  dust  of  my  lord's  sandals  till  my 
throat  is  as  the  shore  of  the  Dead  Sea  for  dryness ! " 

One  or  two  laughed  at  the  freedman's  impudence. 
Annas  calmly  motioned  the  slave-woman  to  fill  a 
cup. 

"  Now  speak,"  said  he  with  authority  when  Nadab 
had  drained  the  cup  and  wiped  his  lips  on  the  back  of 
a  sun-blackened  hand. 

"  I  have  been  as  my  lord's  bucket,  dipping  into  good 
report  and  evil.  Alas,  the  good  is  as  a  pinch  of  salt 
in  the  fish-pools  of  Heshbon !  The  multitude  is  full  of 
murmurs." 

"What  say  they?" 

"  They  say  that  he  that  earneth  wages  putteth  them 
into  a  bag  with  holes ;  —  their  labours  conceive  chaff, 
the  grain  going  unto  others.  They  cry  woe  unto  the 
shepherds  of  Israel  that  do  feed  themselves  and  leave 
their  flocks  unfed." 

He  was  interrupted  by  exclamations  of  disgust  and 


14 

anger.     Caiaphas  dashed  down  his   cup  with  a  fierce 
look. 

"  Blind  leaders  of  the  blind !  "  he  said  violently. 

Only  the  emaciated  figure  in  the  shadow  behind  the 
door  was  silent.  It  leaned  forward  with  an  eager  air 
of  listening.  The  action  brought  its  skull-like  head 
and  hollow  eyes  sharply  into  the  yellow  stream  of  candle- 
light. 

"  Complain  they  more  of  the  tithes,  or  of  Cassar's 
tax  ?  "  asked  Phinehas. 

"  Not  alone  of  the  tithes  or  the  Roman  tax,  though 
these  be  grievous.  They  say  the  usurers  take  away 
their  garments  in  cold  weather ;  —  it  is  vain  to  rise  up 
early  and  labour  late,  for  the  rich  have  hid  a  snare  for 
them.  They  repeat  the  saying  of  the  prophet  Enoch, 
*  Woe  to  you  who  build  you  palaces  with  the  sweat  of 
others !  Each  one  of  the  stones,  each  one  of  the  bricks 
thereof  is  a  sin ! '  They  say  ye  have  eaten  up  the  vine- 
yard, the  spoil  of  the  poor  is  in  your  houses.  Of  An- 
nas. .  .  ." 

He  pretended  to  hesitate.  His  abashed  face  hid  the 
malicious  twinkle  of  his  eyes. 

"  Nay,  what  say  they  of  me?  "  inquired  the  Pharisee 
leader.  "  Speak  without  fear." 

"  Of  my  lord  whose  goodness  to  the  poor,  and  espe- 
cially to  Nadab,  is  as  a  cloud  of  dew  in  the  heat  of 
harvest, —  of  my  lord  those  wicked  ones  say  that  he 
leadeth  counsellors  away  spoiled  and  maketh  the  judges 
fools,  that  his  gifts  blind  the  eyes  of  the  wise  and 
pervert  the  words  of  the  righteous,  and  he  hath  delivered 
us  bound  unto  the  Romans.  Nay ! "  he  cried  smiting 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  15 

his  breast  in  mock  contrition.  "  Not  thy  servant  utter- 
eth  these  follies !  What  am  I !  A  pitcher  that  poureth 
foul  water  because  my  lord  hath  sunk  it  in  a  muddy 
pool!" 

The  high  brow  of  Annas  grew  mournful  under  its 
broad  phylacteries.  He  lifted  his  delicate  hand  in 
pained  protest. 

"  Say  they  this  of  me ! "  he  sighed.  "  Then  is  my 
labour  for  the  people  as  seed  spilled  upon  tilled  soil ;  — 
the  soil  receiveth  it  knowing  not  the  hand  that  blessed." 

"  Gratitude  is  not  in  them ! "  exclaimed  Caiaphas. 
"  Do  they  forget  how  we  labour  for  them  day  and 
night ! " 

"  Of  Caiaphas,"  whined  Nadab,  "  they  say  he  doth 
search  Jerusalem  with  candles  and  is  as  a  fed  horse  at 
morning  neighing  after  his  neighbour's  wife.  .  .  ." 

"  Dog !  "  thundered  Caiaphas  starting  up,  white  with 
wrath,  while  something  like  an  awed  smile  kindled  from 
one  knowing  face  to  another. 

The  camel-driver  grovelled  on  the  floor,  his  stomach 
quivering  under  him  with  silent  laughter. 

"  Peace ! "  said  Annas  to  his  angered  son-in-law. 
"  The  people  utter  these  sayings  not  of  themselves ;  — 
they  are  as  sheep  to  be  led,  and  are  all  led  astray." 

"  The  people  are  asses !  "  said  Nadab  from  the  floor. 
"  But  of  old  did  not  Saul  by  seeking  asses  find  a 
crown ! " 

"  A  crown,  sayest  thou?  Then  these  evil  tongues  talk 
of  a  new  kingdom !  —  do  they  wag  in  the  cause  of  young 
Hyrcanus  ?  " 

As  Annas  spoke,  the  deathlike  head  in  the  shadow 


16  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

leaned  over  his  shoulder  into  the  light.  Bright  cold 
eyes  that  seemed  to  peer  through  the  holes  of  a  paper 
mask  fixed  intently  on  the  camel-driver's  face. 

Nadab  saw,  stared,  trembled,  and  hesitated. 

'*  Speak  they  of  a  new  kingdom  ?  "  Annas  repeated. 

"  Yea, —  of  a  new  kingdom,"  murmured  Nadab  in  a 
sort  of  stupor. 

"  Doth  Barabbas  scatter  money  amongst  them  that 
they  may  shout  for  young  Hyrcanus  ?  " 

"  The  great  robber  doth  indeed  scatter  money,  and 
some  few  shout  for  Hyrcanus  and  cry  death  to  the 
Romans." 

"And  the  others?" 

"  Thy  servant  is  as  dirt  beneath  thy  sandals !  Listen 
unto  the  truth!  The  multitude  follow  after  that  Naz- 
arene  dreamer  who  proclaimeth  to  the  poor  and  the 
captives  his  kingdom  of  God." 

"The  carpenter?" 

"  Scourge  me  with  rods  like  a  dusty  rug  if  I  lie !  " 

"  Did  not  Herod  Antipas  covenant  with  us  a  twelve- 
month past,"  inquired  Phinehas,  glancing  gravely  about, 
"  to  put  that  wordy  fellow  out  of  the  way?  How  may 
this  be?" 

**  He  goeth  not  openly  into  the  cities,  where  the 
Tetrarch's  soldiers  are,"  said  Nadab.  "  And  Herod 
seeking  the  Judean  crown  doth  avoid  a  public  clamour 
now,  such  as  John's  death  did  stir  up, —  lest  it  bring 
upon  him  the  displeasure  of  Tiberius,  who  would  with- 
hold the  crown." 

Here  some  one  muttered  that  the  carpenter's  perni- 
cious doctrines  would  also  if  unchecked  bring  down  the 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  17 

displeasure  of  Tiberius.  Others  counselled  moderation. 
But  Caiaphas  sprang  up  with  a  fierce  outward  gesture 
of  his  clenched  hands : 

"  Ye  know  nothing  at  all !  —  nor  consider  that  it  is 
expedient  for  us  that  one  man  should  die  for  the  people, 
and  that  the  whole  nation  perish  not !  " 

Again  Annas  quelled  the  turmoil. 

"  I  would  that  all  those  poor  fishermen  and  vine- 
dressers whose  heads  are  filled  with  this  carpenter's  sedi- 
tious teachings  might  return  to  honest  labour  of  their 
hands.  But,  my  children,  it  is  not  such  as  they  that 
overthrow  kingdoms.  Here  is  another  peril  more  im- 
mediate. The  robber  Barabbas  joineth  with  young 
Hyrcanus  to  set  up  a  new  kingdom.  They  are  both 
strong  men  of  war,  bold  and  cunning.  Much  plunder 
of  caravans  hath  laid  them  up  treasure.  They  gather 
unto  them  hundreds  of  lawless  men,  greedy  for  spoils. 
Nadab,  what  knowest  thou?  " 

"  Barabbas  cometh  in  secret  to  Jerusalem,"  replied 
the  camel-driver. 

A  general  outcry  greeted  this. 

"  It  is  currently  reported  in  Perea,"  Nadab  added, 
"  that  the  leaders  of  the  Zealots  plot  with  him  to  estab- 
lish a  new  kingdom  under  Hyrcanus  and  drive  out  the 
Romans." 

All  tongues  were  wagging. 

Cried  Caiaphas :  "  If  that  robber  enter  the  gate,  let 
it  be  as  a  partridge  into  the  snare !  " 

"  The  Zealots  will  stir  up  the  rabble  in  the  streets  to 
protect  him,"  another  groaned. 

"  His  defiance  of  Rome,"  said  Phinehas  dubiously, 


18 

"  hath  so  captured  the  hearts  of  the  multitude,  that  they 
would  stone  us." 

"  Send  then  a  secret  messenger  unto  Pontius  Pilate," 
exclaimed  Caiaphas. 

But  Annas  sternly  rebuked  his  son-in-law. 

"  Wouldst  thou  publish  our  counsel  from  the  house- 
top ! "  He  beckoned  Nadab  and  the  slave-woman  to  be 
gone.  "  Depart  in  peace,"  said  he. 

They  slunk  to  the  door.     The  woman  went  out. 

Nadab  paused  to  make  a  servile  reverence  before 
crossing  the  threshold. 

At  that  moment  a  fleshless  hand  in  a  dark  sleeve 
stretched  across  the  light.  The  pale  skull-like  head  pro- 
truded from  the  shadow. 

"  Stay,"  requested  a  colourless  voice. 

Nadab  sank  upon  his  knees ;  and  in  that  room  abrupt 
silence  followed,  as  though  a  god  had  spoken. 

The  hand,  head,  and  voice  were  those  of  John  of 
Petra,  styled  "  the  Leper,"  who  held  the  commerce  of 
the  East  as  in  a  vise.  Ships  and  caravans  of  Tyre  and 
Sidon,  of  Damascus  and  the  Nile,  bore  his  merchandise 
to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth.  The  oil  of  ten 
thousand  gardens  was  his,  the  wine  of  innumerable 
vineyards,  the  stone  of  countless  quarries.  Few  were 
ever  admitted  to  look  upon  his  disease-stricken  face; 
but  his  large  gifts  to  the  poor  were  industriously  noised 
abroad. 

"  The  carpenter's  new  kingdom,"  he  whistled  softly 
through  defective  teeth,  "  what  believe  the  multi- 
tude?" 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  19 

"I  —  I  know  not  my  lord's  meaning,"  stammered 
Nadab,  confused. 

"  What  say  the  common  people  of  it  ?  " 

"  Some  say  one  thing,  some  another.  But  all  believe, 
from  what  the  carpenter  teacheth,  that  he  hath  a  design 
to  set  up  the  new  kingdom  at  the  next  Passover,  and  the 
old  order  will  be  changed." 

The  leper  leaned  a  little  nearer. 

"  Thou  Nadab  discernest  more  than  thou  showest," 
he  hissed  eagerly.  "  Tell  me, —  what  findest  thou  in 
his  teaching?  Will  this  new  kingdom  abolish  rent  and 
usury  and  the  taking  of  profit  ?  " 

Under  Nadab's  mean  exterior  dwelt  a  mind  bold  and 
shrewd  for  that  day  and  generation.  But  now  he 
squirmed  on  the  floor,  somehow  terrified  by  that  ques- 
tion, although  he  did  not  wholly  comprehend. 

"  Wiser  than  Daniel !  "  he  cried  desperately  at  last. 
"  I  know  not !  A  grasshopper  am  I  in  thy  sight !  The 
carpenter  —  he  prayeth,  '  Thy  kingdom  come  ...  on 
earth.  .  .  .  Forgive  us  our  debts  as  we  forgive  our 
debtors.'  He  saith  the  lowly,  poor,  enslaved,  oppressed 
shall  inherit  the  earth.  He  saith  that  having  first  estab- 
lished the  new  kingdom,  then  shall  food,  drink,  and 
clothing  be  added  unto  them  freely.  .  .  .  But  of  rent, 
usury,  profit  —  nay,  I  know  not  if  he  have  ever  spoke 
those  words ! " 

Dead  silence  reigned. 

The  clawlike  fingers  tapped  slowly  the  paper-white 
cheek. 

"  This  Nazarene,"  muttered  John  of  Petra,  lost  in 


20  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

thought,  "  holdeth  In  his  hands  the  lamp.  .  .  .  But  his 
light  shineth  in  darkness  and  the  darkness  comprehend- 
eth  it  not.  He  is  strong  —  strong  —  but  I  too  .  .  ." 

He  made  a  vague  gesture  of  dismissal.     His  ghastly 
brooding  face  sank  back  into  the  submerging  shadow. 


Ill 

IT  was  past  the  wonted  hour  for  shutting  the  city- 
gates.     But  in  Elul,  the  busy  harvest  moon,  pome- 
granates ripened,  maize  sought  the  granaries,  and 
vintage  shouting  began.     So  the  Gate  of  the  Fountain, 
at  Jerusalem,  still  stood  open  by  the  Governor's  order 
to  enable  the  belated  labouring  population  to  draw  water 
from  the  Pool  of  Siloam ;  and  the  Roman  soldiers  at  the 
gate,  leaning  idly  on  their  spears,  accosted  with  rude 
jests  the  Jewish  women  who  hurried  by. 

The  Pool  or  cistern  had  been  built  in  the  valley  of 
the  Cedron,  called  the  Valley  of  Jehoshaphat,  near  a 
fallen  tower,  under  the  southeastern  wall  of  the  city. 
Here  clustered  many  women,  girls,  and  boys  on  the 
muddy  stone  steps,  with  pitchers  and  jars.  The  quiet 
evening  air  carried  far  a  tintinnabulous  medley  of  chat- 
ting voices,  high  feminine  laughter,  songs,  and  the  plash 
of  water. 

Night  was  fast  deepening  along  the  low  ground.  A 
young  man  came  out  of  the  country  and  sat  on  the  grey 
roots  of  a  tamarind  tree  just  below  the  pool.  The  eyes 
of  the  water-bearers,  especially  of  the  young  women, 
fixed  upon  him  with  curiosity,  as  he  loosed  his  dusty 
sandals  and  dipped  his  feet  into  the  shallow  waste  cur- 
rent. 

He  was  of  a  tall  lithe  figure,  and  wore  a  coarse  red 

91 


22  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

homespun  cloak  powdered  with  the  dust  of  much  travel 
on  the  roads.  His  garb  declared  him  a  common  la- 
bourer of  Galilee;  but  his  supple  hands  and  slender 
arched  feet  belied  it. 

His  dark  face  was  still  too  young  for  more  than  the 
slight  beginnings  of  a  beard.  A  look  of  pride  rested 
on  it,  calmly  fierce  like  a  sheathed  sword. 

Annoyed  at  length  by  the  curiosity  of  those  humble 
folk  who  leaned  on  the  wall,  he  rolled  his  full  flashing 
black  eye  scornfully  towards  them.  They  kept  a  re- 
spectful distance,  chattering  and  staring,  like  uneasy 
chickens  when  a  bird  of  unknown  species  drops  quietly 
from  the  upper  regions  into  the  hen-yard. 

Instinct  warned  them  that  this  intruder  was  of  a 
predatory  kind. 

The  twilight  thickened.  A  grey  mist  began  to  pre- 
vail along  the  lower  reaches  of  the  deep  valley.  By  ones 
and  twos  the  water-bearers  departed,  shouldering  their 
vessels  in  the  Judean  manner.  They  climbed  up  the  slope 
to  the  city-gate  in  the  wall,  which  loomed  high  and 
black  against  the  tender  pink  flush  of  the  west. 

Only  the  young  wayfarer  remained,  seated  under  the 
tamarind.  He  seemed  to  await  some  one;  occasionally 
he  cast  a  keen  glance  around. 

Last  of  all  came  a  slender  maiden  in  a  coarse  blue 
gown  bordered  with  red,  bearing  a  tall  earthenware 
pitcher  to  be  filled.  A  song  on  her  lips,  she  tripped 
lightly  downward,  trying  unskilfully  to  balance  the 
pitcher  on  her  head  after  the  fashion  of  Galilean  women. 
Whenever  it  tipped  off  into  her  upstretched  hands,  she 
laughed  out  a  ripple  of  care-free  gaiety. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  23 

She  sang  with  a  clear  warbling  voice  a  popular  re- 
frain of  the  market-place : 

"We  have  piped  unto  you  (O  stupid  pitcher!) 

And  ye  have  not  danced; 
We  have  mourn  .  .  . 

Pitcher!     I  verily  believe  thou  art  tipsy  with  wine." 

At  the  top  of  the  splashed  steps  she  paused  prudently 
to  tuck  her  skirts  about  her  slim  bare  white  ankles  be- 
fore descending  to  the  pool.  Just  then  her  eye  fell  on 
the  youth  under  the  tamarind  tree. 

Her  garment  dropped.  The  song  perished  sud- 
denly. A  moment  she  stood,  poised  on  one  small  foot, 
her  attitude  startled,  uncertain. 

Then  she  went  down  and  sank  her  vessel  deep  in  the 
bubbling  water. 

Bringing  up  the  full  pitcher  with  effort,  she  stopped 
a  second  time  on  the  steps,  glanced  uncertainly  at  the 
red-cloaked  figure  below  her  in  the  dusk,  and  resumed 
her  song: 

"We  have  piped  unto  you, 

And  ye  have  not  danced; 
We  have  mourned  unto  you, 
And  ye  have  not  wept." 

The  notes,  fresh  and  sweet  like  a  lark's,  caused  the 
young  man  to  turn  his  head.  Again  she  sang,  lifting 
her  voice.  Her  manner  was  unmistakable.  He  read  in 
it  an  invitation.  He  rose  lazily  to  his  feet. 

They  two  were  now  alone. 

She  came  towards  him.  Her  eyes,  large  and  dark, 
smiled  shyly  at  him,  a  little  sidelong;  and  he  noting 


£4 

her  sweet  beauty  and  accustomed  to  easy  conquests  of 
the  sort,  said, — 

"  Let  me,  I  pray  thee,  my  little  sister,  drink  a  sup 
of  water  from  thy  pitcher." 

"  Drink,  my  brother,"  she  answered,  laughing  softly 
with  a  kind  of  expectation,  and  let  the  long-necked 
pitcher  clumsily  down  on  her  palm  like  one  unskilled. 

As  he  stooped  to  drink,  his  hands  purposely  found 
hers  on  the  handles.  Their  eyes  met  across  the  vessel's 
rim.  Then  he  in  turn  laughed,  exulting. 

The  maiden  although  somewhat  small  of  stature  was 
of  a  rare  and  delicate  loveliness.  At  his  clasp  the  clear 
olive  pallor  of  her  cheek  warmed  to  wine-colour.  Her 
breasts,  just  rounded  into  womanhood,  lifted  and  fell, 
from  excitement  or  the  effort  of  holding  the  heavy 
pitcher.  Swift  breaths  parted  her  mouth  and  little 
teeth  of  pearl  gleamed  between  the  rose-lips.  It  was  a 
face  like  an  April  sunbeam,  sparkling,  but  haunted  by 
a  faint  and  wistful  under-touch  of  sadness. 

He  took  her  pitcher  from  her,  walked  a  pace  or  two 
in  his  bare  feet,  and  set  it  on  the  sustaining  wall  of 
the  pool.  From  the  leather  wallet  at  his  hip  he  drew 
carelessly  a  gold  coin  which  he  pressed  into  her  palm. 

She  had  expected  something.  Her  manner  had 
showed  that.  But  when  she  found  this  piece  of  money 
in  her  palm,  confusion  covered  her  face.  She  looked 
first  at  it,  then  at  him,  and  her  dark  pupils  enlarged. 

"  A  gold  stater!  "  she  gasped.  "  Why  gavest  thou 
me  this!  Bringest  thou  naught  else  from  Caper- 
naum ! " 

"  Naught  else  but  love,  little  sister !  "  he  laughed,  toss- 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  25 

ing  back  the  glossy  locks  that  covered  his  broad  temples, 
confident  in  his  high  bold  comeliness. 

She  stooped. 

Her  slender  forefinger  traced  in  the  wet  earth  a  rude 
outline  of  a  fish;  and  then  straightening  up,  wiping  the 
finger  on  the  hem  of  her  garment,  she  anxiously  regarded 
him. 

"  Have  I  found  favour  in  my  lord's  sight?  " 

This  too  he  took  to  be  some  sport  of  coquetry;  for 
many  fair  women  had  spread  for  him  the  net  of  desire. 
He  caught  her  slim  wrists. 

"  Fair  art  thou,  little  sister !  Fairest  among  all  the 
daughters  of  Jerusalem!  I  see  that  as  on  the  palm  of 
my  right  hand!  The  others  —  though  I  have  seen 
them  not  yet  —  are  scarce  fit  to  bind  thy  shoe-latchets ! 
Thou  hast  fawn's  eyes!  —  let  me  look!  Nay,  strive 
not.  In  my  grasp  thou  art  a  butterfly  —  one  with 
wings  of  gold  and  purple,  such  as  thou  seest  in  spring- 
time adrift  over  the  hills  of  Gilead !  " 

Terribly  frightened,  she  strained  away  from  his  joy- 
ous face. 

"  Nay !  —  thou  mistakest ! "  she  panted.  "  It  was 
but  a  message  —  I  was  sent  for  —  a  message  from  Gali- 
lee. .  .  .  Nay,  my  lord ! " 

"  Wherefore  sangest  thou  then  unto  me, —  firing  my 
blood  with  love !  "  He  pulled  her  up  irresistibly  against 
his  breast.  "  Sweet  was  the  song,  sweeter  the  singer ! 
I  am  of  those  who  take  what  they  desire." 

She  fought  him,  showing  a  wondrous  spirit  for  so 
young  and  slight  a  maid. 

"  If  thou  offer  me  violence,  thou  shalt  be  slain ! "  she 


26 

threatened  with  impotent  anger.  "  My  father  hath 
power !  " 

He  only  laughed  the  more. 

"  A  lily  among  thorns !  —  crucify  me  if  thou  be  not ! 
Thy  lips  are  as  new  wine  of  En-gedi,  warm  and  sweet." 
Once,  twice,  and  thrice  he  pressed  his  mouth  upon  hers, 
mocking  merrily  her  desperate  efforts  to  bite  him. 

As  she  struggled  in  his  arms,  they  swayed  against 
the  pitcher,  which  fell,  shattering  into  shards.  The 
spilled  water  splashed  their  feet  and  lower  garments. 

It  was  night  down  there  in  the  valley,  although  the 
west  still  burned  with  sunset  flame  above  the  black  out- 
line of  the  towered  gate.  The  soldiers  hearing  her  cries 
looked  idly  over  the  wall.  They  saw  dimly  a  peasant 
maid  resisting  a  man,  but  took  no  concern  over  the  in- 
cident; it  was  not  a  chivalrous  age,  and  the  working- 
classes  were  despised. 

At  last  she  changed  from  fury  to  tears. 

"  Thou  wrongest  me !  "  she  wept.  "  I  am  not  of  those 
that  go  about  the  streets ! " 

He  held  her  off  at  arm's  length  and  lifted  over  against 
her  a  haughty  heroic  head  such  as  might  have  been 
Herod's  in  his  fiery  dreaming  daring  youth. 

"  Neither  do  I  herd  goats ! "  he  declared  boastfully. 
"  Behold !  Am  I  some  crookbacked  potter  of  Caper- 
naum,—  even  the  one  thou  didst  seek  but  now  ?  —  some 
hook-handed  drawer  of  nets  ?  "  A  superb  arrogance 
sounded  in  his  words.  "  Ah,  thou  art  fair,  my  love ! 
Thy  voice  is  unto  me  as  the  call  of  the  quail  in  Sivan 
unto  its  mate!  Thou  shalt  leave  thy  father's  house! 
Thou  shalt  go  with  me,  my  love,  my  little  sister  with 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  27 

the  bright  dove's  eyes !  I  will  bear  thee  off  to  the  moun- 
tains of  Gilead  —  to  the  lions'  dens  —  to  the  hills  of 
the  leopards.  Weep  not,  little  sister.  Ten  score  vali- 
ant men  lie  about  my  tent  by  night,  every  man  hath 
his  sword  on  his  thigh.  They  shall  spoil  an  hundred 
caravans  of  John  the  Leper  to  adorn  thee !  Come !  " 

Because  she  stood  so  quiet  now,  weeping  plentifully, 
he  thought  her  altogether  subdued.  He  released  her  a 
moment  and  turned  to  put  on  his  sandals. 

But  she  sprang  instantly  away. 

"  Simon !  "  she  cried.     "  Barjona !     Save !  " 

She  fled  into  the  shadows,  calling  with  a  wild  shrill 
voice. 

Her  tormentor  stood  betwixt  her  and  the  Fountain 
Gate.  Therefore  she  fled  down  towards  the  mouth  of 
the  Hinnom,  which  girding  the  city  on  the  south  empties 
into  the  Valley  of  the  Cedron  not  far  below  Siloam. 

The  mouth  of  the  Hinnom,  overshadowed  by  precip- 
itous rock  and  the  high  city-wall,  was  of  evil  repute. 
Not  far  above  was  the  city-dump,  called  Tophet,  or 
Gehenna,  where  fires  of  refuse  smouldered  day  and  night. 
Among  the  ancient  rock-tombs  lining  the  deep  defile, 
lepers  and  thieves  took  shelter,  and  also  lunatics,  who 
by  the  superstition  of  the  times  were  thought  to  be 
possessed  of  devils. 

Yet  into  this  gloomy  place  the  girl  darted,  repeating 
at  intervals  her  call  for  help. 

Swift  as  was  her  flight,  her  pursuer  was  not  far  be- 
hind. He  had  but  lingered  to  put  on  his  sandals,  for 
the  sharp  stones  of  the  dried  river-channel  would  other- 
wise have  cut  his  feet.  He  was  hotly  resolved  to  pos- 


28  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

sess  this  entrancing  maiden.  In  all  his  wild  bloody 
young  life  he  had  listened  to  no  law  except  his  own  fierce 
passions. 

As  he  coursed  along  the  dark  valley  like  a  wolf,  he 
squinted  sharply  hither  and  thither.  The  region  was 
strange  to  him.  The  girl's  cries  guided  him  for  the 
first  few  moments.  But  when  she  reached  the  old  tombs 
of  Hinnom,  she  ceased  calling.  And  he,  when  he  had 
run  on  a  little  way,  stopped,  having  lost  her. 

He  peered  all  around  in  vain.  The  malodorous 
smoke  of  Gehenna  lay  upon  the  air.  Farther  up  the 
gorge  sullen  purple  clouds  could  be  seen  rising  against 
the  sky  from  the  smothered  fires  of  Gehenna.  At  mo- 
ments a  fuliginous  tongue  of  flame  burst  up,  with  a 
crackling  noise.  A  deceptive  light  flickered  against  the 
grey  rock-tombs  and  arid  hillsides. 

"  By  the  face  of  God  f "  he  muttered,  astounded  by 
the  dreary  aspect  of  the  place.  "  Was  I  more  dreadful 
to  her  than  this !  Yet  would  I  rather  have  lost  the  city 
than  that  pearl  among  maidens !  " 

A  cautious  motion  far  up  the  dark  hill  at  his  right, 
under  the  city-wall,  dislodged  a  trickle  of  earth,  which 
drew  his  keen  eye.  He  thought  he  saw  her  flitting  high 
above  him  along  the  steep  rocks  where  footing  appeared 
impossible. 

Up  he  scrambled,  with  an  exultant  cry. 

But  having  climbed  twenty  feet  or  so  by  dint  of  cling- 
ing to  every  cranny,  he  was  suddenly  ambushed.  A 
bearded  frowning  face  started  out  at  him  from  behind  an 
old  tomb.  A  staff  was  thrust  between  his  legs,  tripping 
him. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  29 

He  tumbled  headlong  backward  to  the  dry  channel 
below  in  a  small  avalanche  of  dislodged  rubble.  One 
less  agile  would  have  received  a  broken  neck  from  the 
fall. 

Stunned  and  helpless,  he  lay  a  moment  rallying  his 
scattered  senses. 

A  grating  sound  of  footsteps  warned  him  that  his 
assailant  was  descending  upon  him  by  a  path  a  short 
way  off. 

The  instinct  of  defence  remained  alert.  His  hand 
cautiously  sought  the  hilt  of  a  dagger  under  his  cloak. 
He  feigned  a  swoon. 

The  man  came  and  bent  over  him  in  the  dim  flicker 
of  the  Gehenna  fires  reflected  from  the  rocks.  It  was 
a  sturdy  thick-shouldered  labourer  of  middle  age,  with 
bushy  reddish  beard  and  hair.  In  his  right  hand  he 
lifted  a  dark  object  like  a  broad  club,  as  if  to  strike. 

The  dagger  flashed  out,  its  jewelled  hilt  coruscating 
stars.  Stabbing,  the  youth  gathered  himself  to  his 
knees  in  the  same  movement. 

"  Not  by  a  club  at  thy  hands  doth  Hyrcanus  die ! " 
he  exclaimed  savagely  between  his  teeth.  "  Deemest 
thou  the  eagle  of  Gilead  a  barnyard  cock,  to  be  caught 
sleeping ! " 

His  blow,  delivered  dizzily,  almost  at  random,  glanced, 
but  felled  his  astonished  foe  backward  to  the  ground. 
Skilled  in  close  combat,  he  knew  it  had  struck  no  vital 
spot.  He  staggered  over,  caught  the  prostrate  man's 
beard  with  one  hand,  pushed  back  his  head,  and  aimed 
the  death-stroke. 

Surprise  stayed  the  plunging  knife. 


SO  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"  May  cords  strangle  me !  "  said  young  Hyrcanus,  and 
stood  up  and  stared. 

The  dark  object  in  the  man's  fist,  which  he  had  sup- 
posed to  be  a  thick  club,  was  a  goatskin  water-bottle 
partly  full. 

He  stepped  back  a  pace  or  two,  muttering,  and  put 
his  hand  to  his  aching  head. 

The  red-bearded  man  scrambled  vigorously  up.  His 
left  forearm  was  bleeding,  but  he  picked  up  his  fallen 
staff  and  threw  himself  in  a  stout  attitude  of  defence. 

"  Stand  off !  "  he  growled. 

"  Dog  of  a  thief ! "  demanded  Hyrcanus  sternly. 
"  What  designedst  thou  to  do  with  that?  "  He  pointed 
at  the  bottle. 

"  I  was  in  fear  that  I  had  slain  or  wounded  thee," 
answered  the  other  in  a  rough  voice.  "  So  I  came  think- 
ing to  revive  thee.  .  .  .  Hold !  Stay  where  thou  art  — 
or  feel  the  weight  of  this  staff ! " 

Hyrcanus  puckered  his  brows  in  perplexity. 

"  But  who  striketh  down  a  quarry  and  slayeth  it  not ! 
Fool !  thou  mightest  have  made  thee  master  of  this  scrip 
—  of  this  knife  which  hath  gems  .  .  ." 

"  I  sought  nothing  of  thy  stuff,"  grumbled  the  man. 
"  I  sought  but  to  stay  thy  feet  from  evil  which  thou 
wouldst  have  wrought  upon  the  maid.  And,  lo,  now  I 
bleed.  If  thou  stand  not  farther  off  that  I  may  bind 
up  this  hurt  in  safety,  I  will  even  attack  thee  ere  I  grow 
weak." 

"Old  fool!"  cried  Hyrcanus.  "By  my  head!  I 
comprehend  not  thy  talk !  Thou  mightest  have  plucked 
me  like  a  chicken  as  I  lay !  Why  f  oreborest  thou !  " 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  31 

He  thrust  the  splendid  dagger  impetuously  into  its 
sheath,  and  tore  a  piece  of  fine  linen  from  about  his  neck. 
"  Nay,  thy  blood  floweth  fast.  I  will  bind  up  thy 
wound.  I  know  not  how  it  is,"  he  protested  eagerly, 
"  but  I  would  rather  this  eye  were  plucked  out  than  to 
see  thee  bleed! " 

He  advanced  with  the  linen  in  his  hands,  disdaining 
the  brandished  staff.  And  as  the  red-bearded  one, 
doubtful  of  his  purpose,  continued  to  give  ground  be- 
fore him,  threatening  him,  he  commanded  him  imperi- 
ously to  halt. 

"  If  thou  suffer  me  not  to  do  thee  this  service,  I  will 
even  compel  thee !  " 

His  remorse  showed  itself  as  fierce  and  headlong  as 
his  other  passion.  He  would  brook  no  delay,  but  leaped 
within  the  sweep  of  the  staff,  wrested  it  from  its  owner, 
and  forced  him  to  submit  to  having  his  wound  bandaged. 

"  Struggle  not,  fool !  I  repent  me  that  I  stabbed  thee. 
Thou  shalt  have  the  contents  of  my  scrip.  .  .  .  And  the 
sweet  maid  —  she  was  thy  daughter?  I  take  her  for 
a  wife!  What  sayest  thou!  —  not  thy  daughter? 
God's  curse!  Wherefore  then  earnest  thou  between  1 
Nevertheless  I  repent  me  of  this  cut ! " 

In  the  midst  of  his  eager  ministrations,  came  rushing 
through  the  gloom  a  tall  shaggy  figure. 

"  Do  I  find  thee  thus,  Master ! "  exclaimed  a  deep 
low  angered  voice.  "  Playest  thou  here  with  that  bleat- 
ing sheep ! "  !A  dark  rapacious  head,  heavily  whiskered, 
with  glittering  eyes,  was  thrust  between  them.  *'  Know- 
est  thou  not  the  peril!  Come,  Master,  come!  The 
gate  will  shut !  " 


32  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

Aroused  by  these  words,  Hyrcanus  suddenly  aban- 
doned his  task,  flung  his  purse  at  the  peasant,  and  hur- 
ried with  the  newcomer  towards  the  gate. 

But  even  as  he  ran,  he  muttered, — 

"  Barabbas !  I  saw  a  maiden  —  my  heart  shouteth 
for  her !  All  the  vineyards  of  En-gedi  contain  not  such 
a  cluster  of  camphire !  Her  eyes  —  nay,  Barabbas !  — • 
her  lips  —  they  are  sweeter  than  honey  in  the  honey- 
comb ! "  A  moment  he  strode  on,  silent,  then  with  in- 
tense fervour,  "  A  little  pomegranate  full  of  buds  is 
she!  She  fled,  Barabbas!  Thou  hast  seen  a  leaf  fly 
before  the  hot  south  wind  of  the  desert !  Thus  she  fled. 
But  I  will  find  her !  "  He  shook  his  fists  up  at  the  high 
dark  city.  "  Though  I  tear  down  the  houses  of  Jeru- 
salem !  —  yea,  though  I  burn  the  cloisters  of  the  Temple, 
!—  I  will  find  her!" 

"  What  saying  is  this ! "  growled  the  great  robber. 
"  Thou  seekest  a  crown,  Master !  —  why  lingerest  thou 
among  the  dovecotes  I  Haste !  Thou  who  wast  suckled 
by  wild  goats  of  Gilead, —  thou  whose  teeth  were  made 
sharp  on  the  armed  caravans  of  the  Leper, —  thou  fierce 
son  of  fierce  Antigonus, —  stayest  thou  to  prate  of  com- 
mon women !  Win  first  thy  crown !  Then  shalt  thou 
choose  thee  out  an  hundred  wives  and  concubines  from 
among  the  daughters  of  kings !  Faster !  '* 

"  Nay,  lead  on,  old  wolf !  " 

Barabbas  groped  a  moment  along  the  shadowy  ground 
till  his  foot  struck  certain  soft  bulging  objects. 

"  Here  are  the  sacks  of  grain,"  said  he.  "  Shoulder 
thou  the  one,  I  the  other.  We  must  pass  those  Roman 
dogs  up  yonder.  Warily  now,  Master!  Thy  hand  on 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  33 

thy  knife!  If  they  question  us,  we  must  strike  hard 
and  flee." 

Bending  low  under  the  sacks  like  two  harvest-la- 
bourers returning  burdened  from  the  fields,  they  went 
up  the  steep  road  to  the  Fountain  Gate  and  entered  in. 

A  brazen  tuba  pealed  from  the  black  tower.  It  pro- 
claimed the  shutting  of  the  Holy  City  for  the  night. 
All  along  the  dark  valley  a  thousand  ancient  tombs 
caught  up  the  sound  and  flung  it  back  in  hollow  echoes 
like  a  shouting  of  demons. 


IV 

IN  the  Upper  City  of  Jerusalem,  midway  between 
the  market-place  and  the  old  Gennath  Gate,  stood 
the  palace  of  Shealtiel.     The  massive  grey  house 
of  hewn  stones,  rising  a  full  story  above  its  neighbours 
on  the  narrow  street,  with  a  single  iron  gate  heavily 
bolted  and  barred,  was  both  residence  and  fortress  for 
its  swarming  inmates.     In  the  tumultuous  street-fight- 
ing of  ftie  old  days  of  John  Hyrcanus  and  Antigonus 
it  had  stood  off  more  than  one  assault. 

The  housetop,  fenced  about  by  a  secure  parapet  of 
red  tiles  and  shaded  and  screened  by  potted  oleanders, 
shrubs,  and  flowers,  afforded  privacy  and  air  for  the 
women  and  children  of  the  house.  It  was  here  they 
enjoyed  the  cool  of  the  day  and  performed  various  do- 
mestic functions  —  a  Syrian  custom  older  than  the  days 
of  that  David  whose  sinful  eyes  had  gazed  upon  the  un- 
veiled charms  of  Bathsheba. 

On  the  evening  of  the  events  previously  recorded,  the 
women  and  children  of  Shealtiel's  household  were  gath- 
ered in  the  garden  above.  But  the  master  of  the  house 
preferred  solitude  and  his  own  cogitations.  He  paced 
to  and  fro  in  the  court  below,  an  oblong  enclosure  paved 
with  large  flagstones  and  surrounded  by  colonnaded 
porches. 

The  risen  moon  had  begun  to  streak  the  walls  and 
white  pave  with  narrow  silver  bars. 

34 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  35 

Shealtiel,  a  spendthrift  noble  whose  youth  and  in- 
herited riches  had  been  dissipated  in  the  boon  compan- 
ionship of  Archelaus,  ere  that  weak  monarch  was 
banished  to  northern  wilds, —  came  and  went  repeatedly 
through  these  shafts  of  light. 

He  was  a  tall  haggard  man,  shaven  smooth  in  the 
Roman  style,  as  if  to  flaunt  his  contempt  for  the  pro- 
vincial prejudices  of  his  fathers.  His  thin  mouth  hung 
somewhat  loose.  The  furrows  indicative  of  wasted  en- 
ergies ruled  deeply  his  sloping  forehead  and  chin.  A 
pair  of  protruding  eyes  imparted  to  his  face  a  strained 
unnatural  look. 

His  long  tunic  of  fine  twined  linen,  richly  em- 
broidered, shook  out  delicate  perfumes  at  every  move- 
ment. 

A  young  red  fox  trotted  at  his  heels,  secured  by  a 
light  copper  chain.  The  master's  right  hand 
trifled  with  a  whip  carried  for  the  little  animal's 
correction. 

Against  a  pillar  of  the  nearest  porch  leaned  a  slender 
boy-slave  with  folded  arms  in  an  apathetic  attitude. 

The  hour  was  growing  late.  The  cry  of  the  watch- 
men had  traversed  the  wide  circuit  of  the  city.  Only 
the  growling  and  snapping  of  pariah  dogs  was  now  to 
be  heard  in  the  streets.  But  Shealtiel's  women  and 
children  still  lingered  on  the  housetop  to  enjoy  the  cool 
breezes  blowing  down  from  the  hills.  The  unwearied 
clack  of  feminine  voices  ran  through  ripples  of  laughter 
and  screams  of  children  at  play. 

Shealtiel's  step,  hasty  and  irregular,  reflected  the  agi- 
tation of  his  mind.  He  halted  now  in  a  deep  muse,  now 


36  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

started  abruptly  on.  His  prominent  eyes  turned  con- 
tinually towards  the  porter's  lodge.  At  a  louder  burst 
of  gossipy  tongues  above,  he  twitched  the  fox's  chain 
and  frowned. 

"  Go,"  said  he  to  the  slave-boy,  pointing  upward, 
"  and  bid  them  depart  at  once  to  the  gynaeceum.  Their 
noise  rattles  in  mine  ears  like  a  dicer's  box !  I  will  have 
peace !  Bid  them  all  retire, —  save  my  daughter  Bernice 
alone.  Bid  thou  the  Lady  Bernice  —  Stay !  "  he  in- 
terrupted himself  sharply,  his  harsh  voice  rising  thin 
and  querulous.  He  whirled  towards  the  gate  in  an  atti- 
tude of  intent  listening. 

"  My  lord  heareth  the  clatter  of  asses  coming  from 
the  Upper  Pool,"  ventured  the  slave. 

"  Be  silent !  "  And  the  whip  hissed,  striking  the  boy 
into  trembling  quiet.  "  Nay, —  one  cometh,"  muttered 
the  master  after  a  moment. 

His  ear,  whetted  by  anxiety  and  hope,  had  caught  a 
slight  sound  far  up  the  street. 

An  ass's  hoofs  came  gradually  nearer,  clicking  on  the 
ground,  and  stopped  before  the  gate. 

Someone  spoke  softly  to  the  porter  through  the  grille, 
and  was  admitted.  The  iron  bar  slid  along  its  iron 
staples  with  a  grinding  sound. 

There  entered  the  court  a  young  man  wrapped  in  a 
dark  Roman  cloak.  He  paused  laughing  to  give  some 
careless  order  to  the  porter,  who  came  leading  stable- 
ward  his  saddled  beast. 

"  Phaleon ! "  cried  Shealtiel  sharply.  "  My  son ! 
Again  thou  returnest  —  and  alone !  Hast  thou  seen 
naught !  Thou  laughest !  —  at  such  an  hour !  " 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  87 

"  Turn  hercule,  I  laugh  not  by  the  dial  but  on  occa- 
sion!" 

Shealtiel  stretched  his  arms  upward  at  the  shining 
moon  with  a  bitter  gesture. 

"He,  my  eldest  born,  laughs  at  my  despair!  A 
heavy  son  hath  he  been  to  me !  —  wasteful  ever,  scatter- 
ing with  both  hands !  In  vain  have  I  lavished  my  treas- 
ures upon  him!  I  stand  now  on  the  brink  of  ruin, — 
and  he,  my  eldest  born,  seeing  my  heart  consumed  with 
fear  .  .  ." 

"  Nay,  father,"  said  the  careless  young  man.  "  I 
laughed  but  at  mine  own  long  waiting  like  a  dog  that 
sniffs  by  the  hour  outside  a  cook's  door.  Thus  in  my 
schooldays  at  Rome  in  the  Forum  Boarium  .  .  .'* 

"  Peace  with  thy  Roman  gossip !  Have  I  sent  thee 
over-seas  at  so  great  cost  to  have  mine  ears  stuffed  now 
with  thy  rags  of  foreign  trappings!  Speak,  boy! 
Hast  thou  discerned  naught !  —  naught !  " 

"  Not  a  smell.  Quid  igltur!  The  morrow  will 
bring  them." 

"  Where  then,  fool,  will  they  abide  safely  for  the 
night!" 

"  A  sorry  king  hast  thou  invited,  if  he  have  not  a  cop- 
per lepton  to  buy  food  and  shelter." 

"  That  wolf -face  of  Barabbas  —  it  will  betray  them ! 
Is  the  Gate  of  the  Fountain  verily  closed?  Thou  saw- 
est  it  shut?  " 

"  The  tuba  was  sounding  even  as  I  departed." 

The  youth  gave  this  answer  over  his  shoulder,  yawn- 
ing, as  he  turned  to  go  indoors. 

Shealtiel  rubbed  his  hand  over  his  ruffled  brow  and 


38  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

resumed  his  restless  promenade.  He  continued  to  pace 
to  and  fro  for  some  minutes.  At  last  his  eye  fell  once 
more  on  the  slave-boy. 

"  What !  canker-worm ! "  he  exclaimed  in  sudden 
recollection.  "  Art  thou  not  yet  gone !  To  the  house- 
top! Bid  them  all  to  bed.  It  is  my  will!  But  unto 
the  Lady  Bernice  say  thou  that  her  father  bids  her  come 
straightway  hither." 

The  boy  fled  upon  his  errand.  His  slight  form  could 
be  seen  flitting  up  from  portico  to  portico  till  he  gained 
the  roof. 

Swift  silence  ended  the  clack  of  tongues;  the 
shrieking  cries  of  sportive  children  were  hushed. 
White  female  figures  became  visible  rising  hurriedly 
against  the  star-dotted  sky,  gathering  together  cushions 
and  children,  and  departing  into  the  house. 

Some  time  passed.  Then  the  boy  ran  back,  cringing 
and  trembling. 

"  Master !  I  have  searched  the  gynaeceum  of  the 
women  —  nay,  all  the  apartments  of  the  house,  and  the 
Lady  Bernice  cannot  be  found ! " 

"  Not  found !  Sluggard !  At  this  hour  of  the 
night !  "  Furious  at  such  an  incredible  tale,  Shealtiel 
lifted  the  whip.  The  boy  cowered  on  his  face  on  the 
pavement.  The  little  fox  shrank  backward  on  its  chain. 
"  Thou  hast  slept  on  the  stairs  and  now  comest  saying 
my  daughter  cannot  be  found!  Fool!  Couldst  thou 
not  have  inquired  of  that  old  crone  that  doth  attend 
her!" 

"  I  did !  I  did,  Master !  "  shrieked  the  boy.  "  Good 
Master,  be  merciful!  Kedemah  answered  me  not! 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  39 

She  shook  but  her  head,  muttering.  Oh,  good  Master! 
Oh!  Oh!  Aie!  Oh!" 

The  lash  hissed  downward  and  struck.  The  little 
slave  screamed.  The  fox  yelped  in  anticipation  of  simi- 
lar punishment. 

Shealtiel  tucked  back  his  sleeve  with  zest  and  delib- 
erately raised  his  arm  for  a  second  blow. 

At  that  moment  a  girl  came  flying  out  like  a  bird 
from  the  black  shadow  of  a  portico. 

"  Father !  "  she  panted,  as  if  breathless  from  muclj. 
running.  "  Whip  not  the  child !  Spare  him !  Little 
Philip  is  altogether  blameless.  Lo,  here  am  I ! " 

She  cast  herself  on  her  knees  beside  the  boy  and 
stretched  over  him  her  slender  arms  in  protection.  The 
descending  blow  struck  her  shoulder,  among  the  folds  of 
her  disordered  attire,  which  seemed  to  have  been  hur- 
riedly flung  on. 

It  knocked  a  gold  coin  from  some  nook  in  the  sleeve 
where  it  had  lodged.  The  coin  rolled  and  clinked  on 
the  rough  flagstones. 

But  the  girl  heeding  neither  its  loss  nor  the  pain  of 
the  blow  continued  to  stretch  her  arms  up  to  her  father 
in  entreaty. 

Reluctantly  Shealtiel  stayed  his  arm  and  gazed  down 
at  his  daughter  in  frowning  surprise. 

"  Bernice !     At  last  thou  comest !  " 

"  I  did  but  linger  to  change  first  my  garments,  in 
which  it  was  not  proper  that  I  come  before  thy  face." 

"  Why  then  presumed  he  to  say  that  he  found  thee 
not !  "  Shealtiel  looked  again  for  the  little  slave  as  if 
to  resume  the  chastisement.  But  the  boy,  under  cover 


40  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

of  the  intercession,  had  crawled  hastily  aside  and  was 
now  some  way  off  wriggling  his  smarting  back  and 
sobbing.  Instead  of  him,  the  Master's  eye  fell  on  the 
coin,  which  glinted  in  the  moonlight. 

"  As  I  live, —  a  gold  stater!  "  cried  Shealtiel,  stoop- 
ing to  pick  it  up.  "  Where  findest  thou  money  like 
this,  Bernice, —  to  sprinkle  on  the  ground !  " 

"  Nay,  it  caught  perchance  in  my  garments  as  I 
made  haste  to  attire  me  for  thy  presence." 

"  But  when  have  I  distributed  coins  like  this  in  the 
gynaeceum?  " 

The  girl  made  a  brave  attempt  to  smile,  although  her 
lip  trembled. 

"  Oft  is  thy  hand,"  she  said  with  quick  evasion, 
"  more  lavish  in  giving  than  even  thine  own  eye 
knoweth." 

In  putting  the  question  however,  her  father's  mind 
veered  to  other  matters.  He  turned,  pressing  the  silver 
whip-handle  irresolutely  on  his  lower  lip,  and  paced 
twice  up  and  down,  lost  in  thought.  Finally  he  stopped 
before  her. 

"  I  summoned  thee  ..."  he  began ;  and  then  with 
sudden  kindness,  "  Nay,  rise,  my  daughter !  Bruise 
not  thy  tender  knees  on  the  rough  stones."  Drawing 
her  up  he  held  her  face  between  his  palms,  so  that 
the  white  moonlight  fell  upon  its  delicate  lineaments. 
He  narrowly  examined  each  feature.  "  Would  the 
cheek  were  a  hairbreadth  fuller ! "  he  muttered. 
"  But  the  eyes  of  exceeding  depth,  fringed  by  lashes 
like  bulrushes  about  the  fish-pools  of  Heshbon, —  yea, 
the  faint  half -flush, —  why,  it  is  a  flower-face,  a  very 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  41 

marvel,  fashioned  by  the  gods  for  the  lure  of  man! 
I  thank  them  for  this  gift ! " 

His  manner  caused  the  slender  Bernice  to  tremble, 
but  she  still  smiled,  dissembling  her  fears. 

"  I  am  glad  if  I  have  found  favour  in  my  father's 
sight." 

"  A  finger-span  more  would  not  have  harmed,"  mused 
Shealtiel.  "  Stature  is  ever  accounted  a  noble  grace 
in  woman.  Yet  do  not  I  so  greatly  favour  it.  Nor 
did  Archelaus."  He  seemed  to  recall  his  thoughts  from 
a  distance.  "  Whither  have  all  thy  light  songs  fled, 
Bernice?"  he  demanded  sharply. 

"  Hast  thou  inclined  thine  ear  to  them,  my  father  ?  " 

"  True  I  have  been  beset  by  cares.  I  have  lingered 
not  among  my  wives  and  children.  Still,  I  have 
missed  thee.  Of  recent  months  thou  hast  shunned  mine 
eye." 

"  Was  it  fitting  thy  daughter  should  come  before 
thee  without  thy  commandment?  " 

He  made  a  quick  irritable  motion  of  his  hand. 

"  Of  former  years  thy  singing  sounded  in  the  house 
from  the  dusk  of  dawn!  Ever  a  gay  laughing  little 
maid  wast  thou.  It  comes  to  me  clear.  Ever  as  a 
babe  thou  didst  dance  and  play  and  sing  about  the 
knees  of  thy  old  nurse  —  what  call  you  her?  " 

"  Kedemah." 

"  On  thy  fourteenth  birthday  thou  didst  dance  be- 
fore me  amidst  the  harpers.  Thou  didst  sing,  asking 
of  me  a  gift.  Where  now  is  thy  mirth,  Bernice?  thy 
sweet  songs  to  the  lute?  thy  laughter?  thy  brisk-dan- 
cing feet?  Nay,  I  remember  me, —  thy  pink  toes 


42  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

twinkled  on  the  floor  like  pomegranate  buds  tossed  on 
the  wind !  " 

Bernice  answered  rather  piteously : 

"  I  will  even  dance  again  and  sing  —  yea,  and  laugh 
too  —  if  my  father  will  it." 

"  I  do,  my  daughter,  I  do !  A  gay  spirit  in  woman 
hath  a  singular  potency  upon  the  imagination  of  man's 
heart."  He  released  her  but  stood  before  her  with  a 
brooding  look,  the  whip-handle  pressed  against  his  chin. 
"  See  thou,  Bernice,"  said  he  gloomily.  "  This  house 
is  falling  to  ruin.  Thou  hast  thy  father's  fortunes  to 
mend.  I  am  as  a  dicer  who  hath  staked  his  last  gar- 
ment on  the  throw.  And  even  if  the  gods  favour  the 
cast, —  thy  hand  —  thy  hand,  Bernice,  must  gather  and 
guard  the  stakes  for  me !  " 

Her  eyes  grew  wide  and  scared. 

"  How  may  I  do  this  thing?  "  she  sighed.  '*  I  am 
but  a  weak  maid,  timid  of  heart,  and  my  hand  is 
small!" 

Shealtiel  peered  into  the  shadows  under  the  colonnades. 
He  drew  the  girl  more  towards  the  middle  of  the  court. 

"  Come  thou  hither  —  lest  we  be  overheard ! 
Hearken!  Incline  thine  ear  more  closely!  My  debts 
creep  on  me  like  hyenas  about  a  fallen  horse.  John 
the  Leper  hath  me  in  his  net.  He  might  crush  me  as 
a  worm!  He  delayeth  only  till  he  shall  have  pressed 
me  quite  dry  .  .  .  ' 

"  My  father,  all  my  life  long  have  I  heard  thee  thus 
complain  at  whiles.  Yet  is  thy  roof  over  our  head." 

"  Yea,  I  have  fought  it  off  long !  Now  is  the  end. 
I  can  no  more !  So,  ere  the  doom  fall,  I  to  save  myself 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  43 

have  cast  in  my  lot  —  where  thinkest  thou!  —  with 
young  Hyrcanus ! " 

"  Oh !  "  cried  the  girl  with  a  start.  "  The  fierce  and 
bloody  outlaw  prince !  " 

"  Peace !  Not  so  loud !  Naught  else  remained !  I 
was  ever  a  gamester.  Barabbas  hath  joined  him  with 
many  armed  men.  Here  in  the  city  the  Zealots  may  be 
won  over.  Why,  it  is  a  brave  chance!  Hyrcanus  will 
yet  sit  on  the  throne  of  his  fathers  and  drive  out  the 
Roman.  Why,  if  he  capture  the  city  but  for  two  days, 
—  much  might  happen, —  the  Hall  of  Archives  might 
burn,  for  one,  and  with  it  all  my  pledges  of  debt! 
Nay,  it  is  a  hope!  Hyrcanus  is  a  daring  and  crafty 
warrior." 

His  words  were  fanning  up  his  own  courage.  He 
lifted  his  head,  his  eyes  sparkled.  His  hand  smoothed 
his  daughter's  dark  hair. 

"  Lo,  now,  Bernice !  This  beauty  of  thine  is  a  pre- 
cious gift  from  the  sky-dwellers!  Thou  shalt  secure 
in  the  new  kingdom  much  power  and  glory  for  thy 
father's  house.  Thou  shalt  exercise  over  this  new  king 
the  selfsame  rule  which  Mariamne  held  over  the  hot 
heart  of  Herod." 

Her  black  lashes  veiled  her  downcast  eyes. 

"I  hear,  father,"  she  murmured. 

It  was  too  meek  an  attitude  and  tone.  Her  father 
eyed  her  with  distrust,  frowned,  and  gave  her  shoulder 
a  shake. 

"  Wench !  is  it  all  one  if  I  speak  of  to-morrow's 
weather  or  of  thy  father's  salvation!  Thou  wast  not 
formerly  thus  —  so  devoid  of  spirit !  Nay, —  thou 


r44.  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

hadst  ever  a  sly  way  of  gaining  thine  own  ends  in  de- 
spite of  me !  '* 

"  My  father's  will  be  done,"  she  answered  trembling. 

"  Give  heed  then !  To-night  cometh  —  or  perchance 
on  the  morrow  —  cometh  one  who  will  presently  sit  on 
Herod's  vacant  throne."  He  spoke  hurriedly,  with  agi- 
tated pauses,,  lowering  his  voice.  "  The  favour  of 
kings,  Bernice,  is  like  unto  a  wind  —  it  bloweth  one 
hour  and  the  next  is  gone.  O  child  of  my  bowels, 
hearken !  What  sure  cord  have  I  to  bind  me  and  mine 
unto  this  new  king  in  his  day  of  triumph  as  now  in  his 
night  of  need !  Thou  —  thou  art  my  cord  .  .  .  Hist !  '* 
He  stopped  and  stood  listening. 

The  hammer  at  the  porter's  gate,  wielded  by  a  strong 
hand,  sent  a  loud  metallic  clash  reverberating  through 
the  court. 

"  He  cometh !  '*  muttered  Shealtiel.  'A  glister  of 
sweat  sprang  out  suddenly  all  over  his  haggard  face. 

The  porter  appeared  from  the  stables,  his  mouth 
agape  with  yawns,  rubbing  his  eyes.  He  brought  a 
lighted  link.  As  he  stumbled  sleepily  across  the  court, 
the  red  flame  chased  the  shadows  from  the  pillared 
porches. 

Lord  Shealtiel  rushed  at  him  in  a  kind  of  frenzy, 
plucked  the  torch  from  his  fist,  and  dashed  out  the 
flame  in  a  shower  of  sparks  on  the  ground. 

"  Fool !  "  he  exclaimed,  beating  him.  "  Who  bade 
thee  outshine  the  moon!  Go!  Inquire  guardedly  at 
the  grating.  If  they  be  two  without  who  bear  seed- 
corn  from  Bethhoren,  admit  them." 

He  whirled  again  upon  his  daughter. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  45 

"  Thou,  Bernice !  "  said  he  in  a  hoarse  voice.  "  Now 
shalt  thou  be  the  keystone  of  my  fortunes!  Make 
haste  to  thy  chamber !  Adorn  thee !  Command  thine 
old  tiring-woman  to  perfume  thy  garments  with  myrrh 
—  it  hath  a  more  voluptuous  savor.  Broaden  with  the 
pencil  thine  eyebrows, —  thus  is  more  passion  lent  unto 
a  woman's  glances, —  nor  forget  the  henna  for  thy 
fingernails.  The  jewels  of  thy  dead  mother — ever 
my  favourite  wife  was  she  —  bind  thou  on  thy  neck 
and  arms  and  ankles.  To-night,  O  Bernice,  hearken  — 
to-night  shalt  thou  dance  thy  way  into  the  heart  of  a 
king!  Go!" 

Her  lips  quivered  wistfully.  Her  eyes  implored  him. 
She  knelt  and  would  have  clung  to  the  skirts  of  his  gar- 
ment, but  he  thrust  her  rudely  off. 

"  Begone !  "  he  muttered.  He  was  all  intent  on  that 
low  sound  of  voices  at  the  gate,  and  quite  unaware  of 
her  mute  appeal.  "  Begone,  fool !  Wouldst  be  seen  in 
this  disorder ! " 

Plucking  his  skirts  loose  from  her  grasp,  he  hurried 
away. 

Thereat  the  meekness  vanished  from  her  face.  Her 
eyes  flashed  rebellious  fire.  She  clenched  her  hands  and 
struck  them  together. 

"  I  will  not  do  this  wicked  thing ! "  she  whispered 
furiously.  "  I  will  not !  I  will  not !  I  will  not !" 

She  sprang  up  from  her  knees  and  rushed,  with 
her  black  wave  of  hair  streaming  behind,  into  the 
house. 

The  iron  bars  at  the  gate  gave  forth  a  rumbling 
sound  in  the  staples. 


SHEALTIEL  had  stepped  into  the  short  covered 
passage  leading  from  the  gate.  The  shadow 
there  was  dense.  He  leaned  against  the  wall  and 
waited. 

Two  dim  forms  presently  came  stumbling  over  the 
uneven  pavement,  bending  under  some  sort  of  burdens. 
One  of  the  two  flung  down  his  burden  of  a  sudden,  and 
straightened  up. 

"  Do  I  enter  my  kingdom  as  an  ass ! "  exclaimed  he 
with  impatience.  "  I  bear  this  not  another  step !  " 

Thereat  the  other,  a  great  shaggy  phantom  in  a 
coat  of  undressed  sheepskins,  cast  down  his  burden  in 
like  manner,  growling, — 

"  Have  a  hand  on  thy  knife,  Master !  The  place  is 
dark!  In  these  narrow  walls  a  man  may  not  breathe 
full  without  peril.  For  that  Shealtiel, —  Master,  trust 
him  not.  He  hath  shaved  off  the  beard  of  his  fathers, 
and  goeth  shameless  with  a  face  would  sell  us  both  to 
Annas  for  a  half -shekel!  Thrice  have  I  met  him  in 
these  secret  dealings,  and  scarce  could  keep  my  sword 
from  his  bowels." 

"  Nay,  Barabbas !  He  is  tied  too  fast  in  a  chain  of 
golden  promises." 

"  Distrust  him,  Master,  ne'ertheless." 

The  mutter  of  their   stern   voices   caused   Shealtiel 

to  lean  stealthily  forward  listening.     But  at  his  first 

46 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  47, 

motion  the  keen  desert-trained  eyes  and  ears  detected 
him.  There  was  a  rasp  of  steel  blades  snatched  from 
sheaths. 

"  Who  cometh !  " 

"  Peace  unto  you ! "  responded  Shealtiel.  He  ad- 
vanced and  knelt  upon  the  ground.  "  O  King,  live 
forever!  It  is  I,  thy  servant  Shealtiel.  I  and  all  in 
this  house  are  thine.  Long  have  I  waited  thy  coming! 
A  heavy  stone  is  lifted  from  my  heart." 

"Rise,"  said  young  Hyrcanus  not  without  majesty, 
and  lifted  and  ceremoniously  embraced  him.  "  Thou, 
first  to  hail  me,  shalt  be  first  in  my  kingdom ! " 

"And  I,  Master?"  jealously  grunted  the  robber. 
"  I  who  hailed  thee  already  in  the  desert !  " 

"  Thou  shalt  be  unto  me  even  as  a  father,  Barabbas. 
But  lo,  Shealtiel,  we  have  journeyed  far;  —  we  do 
hunger  and  thirst." 

"  All  is  prepared  against  thy  coming,"  said 
Shealtiel. 

He  conducted  them  indoors  with  many  low  bows,  and 
despatched  a  slave  to  summon  his  son  Phaleon  to  aid 
him  in  ministering  to  his  guests  at  their  ablutions. 

Attired  soon  in  fresh  and  fragrant  linen,  they  en- 
tered the  banquet-chamber. 

Along  the  walls  bronze  lamps  of  flat  Jewish  design 
burned  with  ruddy  flame.  Spices  sprinkled  therein 
sent  up  a  faint  whitish  smoke  heavily  perfumed. 
Green  rushes  were  strewed  on  the  floor.  The  table, 
forming  three  sides  of  a  square  in  the  style  of  the  pe- 
riod, was  adorned  with  flowers.  The  triclinium  or  re- 
clining couch,  liberally  cushioned,  occupied  the  outer 


48  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

side  of  the  board,  leaving  the  inner  free  for  the  serv- 
ants to  bear  the  chargers  in  and  out. 

It  had  been  understood  that  for  caution's  sake  the 
two  guests  were  to  be  treated  as  kinsmen  newly  arrived 
from  Antioch.  But  Shealtiel  conducted  young  Hyr- 
canus  to  the  central  couch,  the  protoklisia  or  place  of 
honour,  which  was  significantly  draped  in  purple. 

Barabbas  he  assigned  to  the  prince's  left,  stationed 
himself  at  the  right,  and  motioned  Phaleon  to  a  lower 
seat. 

A  clapping  of  the  hands  sufficed  as  a  signal  to  the 
tricliniarch  or  steward.  Servants  swarmed  in  with 
amphoras  of  wine  and  chargers  of  food.  The  feast 
began. 

Not  in  vain  had  Shealtiel  dwelt  of  old  in  the  palaces 
of  kings.  The  crafty  courtier  of  Archelaus,  schem- 
ing now  for  power  in  the  new  kingdom,  practised  va- 
rious wiles  to  strengthen  his  influence  over  the  mind  of 
young  Hyrcanus. 

And  first  he  sought  to  astonish  him  with  his  wealth, 
splendour,  and  magnanimity.  For  thus  he  designed  to 
overshadow  Barabbas,  whom  under  courteous  pretexts 
he  held  up  to  sly  ridicule. 

The  great  black  robber  was  determined,  for  his  own 
part,  to  brook  no  rival  for  the  king's  favour.  But 
amid  these  luxurious  appointments,  more  Grecian  than 
Jewish,  peculiar  to  the  optimates  of  Judea,  he  appeared 
to  disadvantage,  not  without  his  secret  consciousness 
thereof  and  resentment.  He  sprawled  insolently  along 
the  couch,  one  hairy  shoulder  protruding  from  the 
white  linen  stretched  across  his  thick-muscled  chest. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  49 

In  this  attitude  he  devoured  greedily  and  barbarously 
handfuls  of  delicate  provender,  thrusting  his  coarse 
paw  into  the  strange  dishes. 

Shealtiel  slyly  plied  him  with  heady  Cyprian  wine, 
which  he,  ignorant  of  its  intoxicating  effect,  poured 
down  his  bearded  throat  by  brimming  cupfuls. 

The  gross  manners  of  the  ruffian  excited  the  con- 
tempt of  Phaleon,  a  city-bred  youth. 

"  This  fellow,  who  hath  robbed  many,  kisses  now  a 
greater  thief,"  murmured  the  latter  in  safe  Latin  to  his 
father. 

Across  the  board  the  eye  of  Barabbas  dwelt  in  men- 
acing doubt  upon  the  laughing  young  man. 

"  Have  the  Roman  dogs  enslaved  likewise  thy  tongue, 
boy, —  as  thy  dress !  " 

"  I  did  but  commend  my  father's  choice  of  wines,"  re- 
plied Phaleon.  "  Findest  thou  the  liquor  to  thy 
taste?" 

"  The  wine  is  good  —  too  good  to  be  praised  in 
Latin!  Yet  hath  John  the  Leper  oft  supplied  my 
cellars  with  as  good!  Thinkest  thou,  boy,  I  have  not 
drunk  good  wine  ere  now ! "  Then  to  Hyrcanus,  dis- 
playing his  white  fanglike  teeth,  he  growled,  "  A  soft 
nest,  Master!  They  that  dwell  in  such  must  needs  be 
soft."  He  crunched  an  almond,  grinning.  "  Wait, 
Master!  When  the  hour  sounds,  thy  old  wolfs  jaws 
will  crack  Jerusalem  like  this  nut." 

"  In  that  day,"  said  the  prince,  **  were  Barabbas  a 
thousand  hungry  wolves,  he  shall  be  filled." 

Thereupon,  smooth  Shealtiel :  "  Let  my  king  once 
sit  upon  the  throne  of  his  fathers,  the  ancient  and 


60  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

glorious  Asmonean  line,  I  too  shall  be  filled  —  though 
it  be  but  with  his  glory." 

"  Not  on  diet  so  thin  do  I  feed  my  helpers ! "  cried 
Hyrcanus.  "  Thou  shalt  have  John  of  Petra  to 
pluck." 

"  Adhuc  tua  messis  in  herba,"  murmured  Phaleon 
to  his  father  with  laughter  behind  his  palm. 

"  Master !  "  scowled  the  robber.  "  If  thou  have  not 
given  him  the  fat  of  the  whole  kingdom,  I  am  a  Samari- 
tan!" 

"  Nay,  old  friend,  thou  shalt  have  the  opening  of 
David's  Tomb." 

Barabbas  combed  his  grease-shining  fingers  through 
his  wiry  beard  in  drunken  calculation. 

"  The  digging  might  be  repaid,"  he  grumbled. 
Presently  he  lifted  high  his  cup,  his  eyes  flaring. 
"  Hail  to  the  new  kingdom,"  he  howled,  "  when  all 
Pharisee  fat  shall  find  new  ribs ! " 

The  feast  progressed.  Wine  flowed  freely.  The 
manner  of  the  banqueters  became  continually  less  re- 
strained. Barabbas  emptied  innumerable  cups  of  the 
strong  Cyprian  liquor,  veering  between  moods  of  feroc- 
ity and  hilarious  mirth.  He  laughed,  shouted,  cursed, 
sung,  or  hurled  articles  at  the  slaves.  Phaleon,  who 
had  a  weak  head  for  wine,  giggled  and  with  vapid  gaze 
talked  constantly  in  Latin, —  to  which  no  one  listened. 

As  night  wore,  Hyrcanus  too,  excited  by  new  hopes 
and  frequent  libations,  turned  a  greedy  ear  to 
Shealtiel's  sly  flatteries.  His  forehead  flushed.  His 
eyes  became  bright  and  unsteady.  The  reins  of  his 
tongue  were  loosed. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  51 

"  Jerusalem  once  fallen,"  he  exclaimed,  "  I  afford 
time  neither  for  the  Roman  to  rally  nor  discontent  to 
gather  head.  I  muster  this  army  of  men  and  horses. 
I  strike  first  Caesarea,  the  gateway  —  see  thou  —  from 
the  sea."  He  drew  lines  of  spilled  wine  before  him  on 
the  board.  "  Thus  I  gain  me  a  twelvemonth  —  see 
thou  —  ere  the  legions  gather  again  on  this  coast.  On 
Joppa  I  descend  as  a  whirlwind, —  on  Askelon.  They 
skip  before  me  as  grasshoppers!  I  assemble  the  multi- 
tude, choose  me  out  men  of  war,  chariots,  horses!  I 
overrun  Perea,  Samaria,  all  Galilee.  Tyre  I  put  to  the 
sword,  likewise  Seleucia.  Thus  knitting  quickly  my 
kingdom,  I  spread  the  terror  of  my  name  even  unto 
Damascus.  Arabia  joineth  hands  with  me;  —  nay, 
lean  thine  ear  closer,  my  friend, —  I  tell  thee  privately, 
I  hold  a  pledge  of  old  King  Aretas  now!  We  join 
hands  at  last,  to  meet  the  Romans  in  the  passes  of 
Coele  Syria,  at  the  fords  of  Leontes.  There  shall  the 
hills  flow  down  blood,  the  kites  gather  quickly,  and 
hyenas  laugh  by  night  over  the  slain !  " 

"  Craftier  than  Herod ! "  murmured  Shealtiel. 
"Bolder  than  Herod!  Greater  than  Herod!  Drink 
again !  Drink  to  thy  kingdom !  " 

"  Death  to  all  Roman  dogs ! "  shouted  Barabbas, 
pouring  cupfuls  of  red  wine  down  his  throat.  "  Drink, 
Master !  What  whispers  there  in  thine  ear  that  soft  re- 
cliner  among  pillows !  Heed  him  not,  Master !  He  hath 
a  crafty  face !  But  hath  he  an  arm  for  bow  or  spear  or 
sword  like  unto  mine !  " 

He  bared  his  long  muscle-knotted  swarthy  arm  and 
waved  it  aloft. 


52  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

Hyrcanus  drained  his  cup.  His  eyes  flashed  yet 
more  wildly.  Veins  stood  out  dark  on  his  spacious 
forehead. 

"  I  shall  build  me  a  mighty  kingdom !  Earth  shall 
ring  with  my  glory!  In  war  I  shall  equal  David,  in 
riches  and  splendour  Solomon!  Then  having  all  the 
world  under  my  heel  I  shall  —  I  shall  .  .  .  Let  me 
see !  —  what  shall  I  then  do  ?  ...  Oh,  aye !  I  shall 
then  take  unto  me  wives  of  the  daughters  of  kings. 
Stay!  I  shall  first  take  unto  me  that  little  maid  with 
the  blue  mantle  that  met  me  by  the  Pool  of  Siloam! 
Nay,  why  wait  until  I  have  first  done  all  those  other 
things !  I  will  take  her  now, —  could  I  but  find  her ! 
I  will  rake  Jerusalem  for  her!  She  is  a  young  quail 
calling  to  its  mate  in  the  corn!  She  hath  eyes  like 
.  .  .  And  I  did  break  her  pitcher !  " 

Barabbas  shaking  his  wine-wet  beard  burst  out  in  a 
coarse  comic  song,  which  he  accompanied  by  maudlin 
gestures, — 

"Take  a  lute,  go  about  the  city, 

Harlot  that  hast  been  forgotten! 
Make   sweet  melody,   sing  many   songs, 
That  thou  mayest  be  remembered ! " 

Phaleon  tried  to  beat  time  on  the  table,  and  joined 
a  wandering  voice  to  the  tune.  His  head  had  begun  to 
roll  heavily  on  his  shoulders. 

Lifting  himself  drunkenly  on  his  elbow,  Hyrcanus 
shook  back  his  cloud  of  hair. 

"The  first  seat  in  my  kingdom,"  he  cried,  "  to  who 
bringeth  me  the  little  maid  with  the  broken  pitcher!" 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  53 

"  Ho,  Shealtiel !  "  shouted  the  robber.  "  Hast  thou 
not  music  to  grace  thy  feast?  " 

"  Ye  shall  have  both  music  and  dancing." 

The  Judean  noble  clapped  his  hands. 

A  double  file  of  slaves  entered,  men  and  women,  with 
stringed  harps,  lutes,  and  viols. 

Squatting  on  their  heels  against  the  wall,  they  be- 
gan to  strum.  The  air  of  the  room,  on  which  the  white 
scented  smoke  from  the  lamps  hung  in  filmy  drifts, 
vibrated  to  the  harmonious  sound  of  the  instruments. 

A  well-formed  young  woman,  almost  naked,  sprang  in 
from  behind  the  curtain  at  the  doorway,  and  danced 
with  clicking  castanets.  As  she  rested,  panting,  a  man 
entered  and  danced  opposite  her.  Then  both  danced 
and  leaped  together,  accompanying  their  steps  by 
gestures. 

Shealtiel  carefully  watched  the  dark  countenance  of 
the  prince,  and  when  he  noted  its  rising  animation, — 

"  Thy  servant,"  he  said  softly,  "  delighteth  to  honour 
his  King.  Behold,  thou  hast  lamented  the  beauty  of 
some  common  maid  that  met  thee  at  Siloam.  But  now 
will  I  summon  my  daughter  to  dance  before  thee.  So 
shall  thy  sorrows  flee  away  as  a  shadow."  He  clapped 
his  hands  once  more.  "  Bid  my  daughter  Bernice  ap- 
pear and  dance  before  my  guests  the  Love  Dance  of 
the  Shulamite." 

The  curtain  opened.  Instead  of  Bernice,  however, 
an  aged  slave-woman  entered,  withered  and  yellow  like 
a  melon. 

Barabbas  burst  into  a  roar  of  laughter: 

"  O  beautiful  daughter  of  Shealtiel !  —  dance  before 


54  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

us !  —  dance  before  us !     Skip  as  a  young  hart  on  the 
hills!" 

Falling  on  her  knees  the  old  woman,  in  a  voice  which 
piped  and  twittered  with  age,  said, — 

"  The  Lady  Bernice  lieth  on  her  bed,  O  Master,  and 
prayeth  that  her  father  will  mercifully  excuse  her  until 
she  have  gained  more  strength." 

Wrath  and  mortification  whitened  Shealtiel's  shaven 
visage.  "  Go  straightway,  Kedemah,"  said  he  be- 
tween his  gritted  teeth,  "  and  bid  my  daughter  arise 
and  come  quickly!  Or,  by  the  living  God,  I  will  have 
her  brought  hither  on  her  bed!  She  shall  feel  the 
weight  of  my  severe  displeasure !  Go !  "  And  to  the 
musicians  he  cried  savagely,  "  Play  on ! " 

The  harps  twanged.  A  boy  sang  a  Syrian  love- 
song  in  a  sweet  warbling  voice. 

At  the  end  of  this  the  old  Kedemah  reappeared  from 
behind  the  curtain,  spread  a  rug  upon  the  floor,  and 
made  a  sign  to  the  harpers. 

They  changed  to  a  slower  measure,  accompanying  it 
vocally  by  a  throbbing  chant,  the  prelude  to  the  Love 
Dance  of  the  Shulamite.  The  music  dwindled  to  a 
subdued  rhythm  that  haunted  the  silence  expectantly. 
Kedemah  held  back  the  curtain. 

Bernice  entered,  her  face  concealed  by  a  thick  white 
veil,  her  slim  arms  and  ankles  encircled  by  massive  gold 
bands.  From  her  neck  hung  a  many-stranded  neck- 
lace of  antique  gems  that  clicked  and  sparkled  as  she 
moved.  She  was  attired  necessarily  in  the  costume  of 
a  dancing-girl,  the  body  semi-nude,  the  white  limbs  and 
softly  rounded  breasts  visible  through  gauze  drapery. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  55 

Nevertheless  Shealtiel  frowned. 

"  She  hath  hid  herself  like  unto  the  holy  of  holies ! " 
he  muttered  in  the  prince's  ear.  "  But  wait !  When 
in  the  dance  she  unveileth, —  such  a  face  as  thou  shalt 
then  see !  " 

The  girl  began  to  dance. 

Her  delicate  form  undulated  easily  to  the  slow  soft 
beat  of  the  music.  It  was  like  the  swaying  of  a  palm- 
stem  to  the  gentle  pressure  of  the  wind.  The  bare  feet, 
blue-veined  and  slender,  glided  hither  and  thither  over 
the  scarlet  rug  on  pink-white  toes.  The  shining  arms 
lifted  and  drooped.  At  times  she  bent  almost  to  the 
floor  in  languid  poses,  or  swayed  like  a  reed  shaken  by 
running  water.  She  moved  as  in  a  dream.  For  thus 
the  Love  Dance  betokens  the  life  of  the  Shulamite  ere 
the  king's  love  enters  it. 

Gradually  the  rhythm  quickened,  the  voices  grew 
louder,  more  throbbing.  Now  was  love's  first  awaken- 
ing. The  viols  wailed.  Across  the  vibrating  strings 
of  the  harps  swept  wild  clashes  and  gusts  of  half -dis- 
cordant sound.  Bernice's  white  feet  twinkled  to  the 
brisker  measure;  her  sweet  body  fluttered  birdlike 
through  successive  portrayals  of  surprise,  dismay,  re- 
fusal, flight,  capture,  at  last  consent. 

Here  the  gross  taste  of  the  Orient  called  for  more 
wanton  gestures.  Shealtiel  perceiving  how  his  daugh- 
ter evaded  these,  frowned  repeatedly. 

"  She  is  confused  —  dancing  before  thee,"  he  apol- 
ogised to  the  prince,  and  called  out  sharply  to  her  that 
she  was  forgetting. 

As  she  danced,  she  lifted  her  hands  at  last  to  un- 


56  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

wind  the  veil.  Hyrcanus  leaned  forward  with  flashing 
eyes. 

But  for  Barabbas  this  unveiling  came  too  slowly. 
He  sprang  up  smacking  his  lips. 

"  The  maid  shall  have  a  man ! "  shouted  the  tipsy 
ruffian. 

Putting  a  foot  upon  the  table,  he  made  to  leap  over 
and  clasp  her  in  his  arms.  She,  alarmed  in  the  midst 
of  her  unwinding  of  the  veil,  uttered  a  cry  of  fear  at 
that  formidable  prospect. 

Her  cry  caused  Hyrcanus  to  start.  He  caught  the 
robber  fiercely  by  the  ankle  and  dragged  him  down. 

"  Old  stuffed  goatskin ! "  cried  he.  "  The  maid  is 
mine !  Lay  thou  one  finger  on  her, —  I  slit  thee  like  a 
bladder!" 

Thick  veins  of  passion  swelled  and  darkened  on  his 
forehead.  Out  leaped  the  jeweled  dagger. 

Barabbas,  who  had  thundered  down  among  the  cups, 
grappled  him  by  the  wrist,  howling  curses.  Dismay 
chilled  the  hearts  of  all  while  these  two  tigerish  brawlers 
locked  in  a  brief  struggle  on  the  flower-strewn  board. 

But  suddenly  the  robber  burst  into  maudlin  laughter 
and  relaxed  his  hold. 

"  Lo !  "  he  squealed,  pointing  with  his  hand.     "  Lo !  '* 

Hyrcanus,  who  in  the  grapple  had  rolled  over  the 
other  and  won  the  floor  beyond,  turned  dizzily  towards 
the  dancer. 

"  The    voice  .  .  ."    he    exclaimed,    "  that    I    heard 

5> 

•      •     • 

She  had  stopped.  The  unwound  veil,  taken  from 
her  face,  hung  in  her  clasped  hands.  He  peered 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  57 

eagerly,  then  staggered  back,  brushing  his  hand  across 
his  eyes. 

"  It  was  the  wine !  "  he  muttered.  "  Naught  else ! 
Stone  me  at  Golgotha,  if  I  had  not  a  strange  thought 
in  my  head  just  now!  The  wine  hath  made  me  mad! " 

Shealtiel  turned  from  watching  the  prince  to  the  girl. 
At  once  he  struck  an  incredulous  attitude. 

"  What !  What  foolery  is  this ! "  he  stammered. 
"  Wench !  Hath  some  perverse  devil  possessed  thee ! 
God  of  my  fathers!  Thou  hast  painted  thy  face  like 
—  like  a  damn'd  Jezebel !  " 

The  wit  of  Bernice  had  found  a  way  of  foiling  her 
father's  design  concerning  her,  under  pretense  of  obedi- 
ence. He  had  told  her  to  use  the  pencil.  Therefore 
she  had  broadened  her  eyebrows  enormously,  arching  one 
higher  than  the  other.  She  had  splashed  carmine,  as  it 
were  frantically,  about  her  lips ;  even  her  nose  had  not 
escaped  the  sanguine  hue. 

These  artifices  hid  her  beauty  as  securely  as  a  mask. 

Fury  and  shame  quivered  on  Shealtiel's  pale  features. 
He  hurled  a  goblet  which  struck  her  on  the  temple  and 
felled  her  to  the  floor. 

"  Bear  her  out !  "  he  shouted.  "  Begone !  —  all  of 
you !  Some  devil  doth  mock  me  to-night !  " 

The  frightened  slaves  rose  from  their  heels  tumultu- 
ously  and  fled.  Old  Kedemah  rushed  in  with  grey 
hair  flying  and  dragged  away  the  unconscious  girl. 

"  Aie !  Aie ! "  she  wailed  in  falsetto.  The  cry  could 
be  heard  diminishing  along  the  halls,  "  Aie !  Aie !  " 

Hyrcanus  pressed  his  thumbs  to  his  eyeballs,  and 
gazed  around  with  drunken  bewildered  stare. 


58  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

On  the  wrecked  table  Barabbas  sprawled,  emitting 
bestial  squeals  and  tossing  handfuls  of  flowers  in  air. 
Young  Phaleon  had  yielded  altogether  to  stupor,  and 
lay  limp  on  the  triclinium,  his  swollen  face  and  dishev- 
elled hair  suspended  over  the  cushioned  edge.  Spilled 
wine  dripped  with  a  faint  steady  patter  on  the  floor. 
Several  lean  dogs  which  had  crept  in  were  snapping  up 
the  crumbs.  The  smoke  of  expiring  lamps  and  burnt 
perfumes  hung  thick  on  the  heated  atmosphere,  in 
which  was  mingled  the  sour  odor  of  wine. 

Only  the  master  of  the  feast  seemed  to  have  remained 
sober.  He,  recovered  from  his  moment's  transport  of 
rage,  stood  quietly,  gnawing  his  loose  under-lip,  and  re- 
garded with  intent  eyes  the  peculiar  astonishment  of 
the  prince. 

"  Wherefore  art  thou  so  amazed,  O  King? "  he 
asked. 

"  Nay,"  said  Hyrcanus  drowsily,  "  thy  daughter 
hath  a  most  sweet  voice  ...  A  pity  it  is,  her  face 
.  .  .  Nay,  sleep  and  wine  weigh  on  me  like  lead!  .  .  . 
Shealtiel,  thy  strong  wine  hath  .  .  .  hath  confused  my 
wits.  Lead  me  to  a  bed." 


VI 

LORD  SHEALTIEL  arose  from  his  bed  at  dawn. 
There  had  visited  him  in  the  night  troops  of 
fears  and  far-flung  schemes  that  would  not  let 
him  sleep. 

He  paced  the  cool  grey  upper-porches  of  his  house 
in  glum  thought,  his  thumbs  hooked  in  his  girdle,  his 
chin  on  his  breast,  his  prominent  eyes  bent  upon  the 
ground.  But  when  the  sun  lifted  above  the  gardens  of 
Olivet  and  flamed  against  the  housetop,  he  entered  the 
chamber  where  his  eldest  born  snored. 

"  Phaleon ! "  said  he,  impatiently  shaking  him. 
"  Awake,  my  son !  I  have  need  of  thee !  Faugh !  — 
the  breath  of  thy  mouth  is  as  an  old  wine-vat  un- 
cleansed  and  sour !  Awake !  " 

The  dissipated  youth  sat  up  grumbling  and  groan- 
ing and  blinked  at  him  with  inflamed  visage.  He 
licked  his  dry  lips  and  put  his  hands  to  the  sides  of 
his  head. 

"  What  hour  is  it  ?  Heu!  Mvlto  tempora  quassa 
mero!  " 

"  Phaleon,  what  thinkest  thou  ?  Speak  thy  mind 
freely.  We  are  alone." 

"  Immo  vero,  they  have  hides  a  span  thick !  Ere  I 
could  spy  the  bottom  of  my  cup,  that  old  wolf  had 
guzzled  four  and  five,  gnashing  his  tusks  and  calling 
for  more.  Yet  here  am  I  as  if  drubbed  with  sticks ! " 


60  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

He  pressed  his  head,  groaning.     "  For  thy  Hyrcanus 

5> 

"  It  is  of  him  I  would  have  thee  speak,"  said  Shealtiel 
softly.  "What  thinkest  thou, —  will  he  be  king?" 

"  Am  I  a  divinator !  Go  toss  a  denarius  to  that 
hunchback  —  what  call  they  him  ?  —  Nadab !  —  he  who 
hath  the  camel  of  many  tricks.  He  will  read  thee  a 
future  straightway  on  the  palm  of  thy  hand." 

"  Thou  mistakest.  I  meant  —  what  of  this  prince's 
wit?  If  once  he  sitteth  on  the  throne,  will  he  be  king? 
Or,  as  in  the  days  of  John  Hyrcanus,  will  some  shrewd 
Antipater  move  the  affairs  of  state  from  behind  the 
throne?" 

"  Woe  to  who  plays  Antipater  with  such  an  one ! 
If  that  eye  rolling  and  flashing  in  his  head  be  not  great 
Herod's  own, —  nescio  hercle!  And  on  his  forehead 
the  black  net  of  veins  —  sawest  thou  ?  —  as  if  the  boil- 
ing blood  must  burst  its  channels  !  " 

"  A  mark  of  the  Asmonean  stock." 

"  I  was  far  gone  in  wine,  but  it  sticks  in  my  mind's 
eye  how  he  overthrew  that  big  bull  of  Bashan! 
Pulcherrime  conjectum!  The  robber's  black  throat 
was  not  worth  a  copper  lepton's  purchase !  " 

"  O  son,  my  very  thought  I  This  Hyrcanus  hath  a 
temper  quick,  terrible,  veering  like  the  wind  at  Joppa 
that  strews  wrecks  along  the  shore.  The  fierce  As- 
monean blood ! " 

"  He  being  king,  we  shall  all  dance  to  his  music. 
One  misstep  .  .  ." 

The  youth  drew  his  hand  edgewise  across  the  back 
of  his  neck. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  61 

"Again  mine  inmost  thought,  Phaleon,  child  of  my 
bowels !  A  fickle  sunshine  shall  we  bask  in ! " 
Shealtiel  rubbed  one  hand  over  the  back  of  the  other  as 
if  cold.  "  I  who  have  tasted  the  gratitude  of  princes 
ere  now, —  took  I  not  my  profit  in  wisdom  ?  Shall  I 
hang  upon  his  good-will, —  to  be  given  perchance  a 
lower  seat  in  his  councils  than  Barabbas!  Shall  I 
scramble  amid  a  swarm  of  others  for  his  favours  ?  " 

"  We  shall  see  many  scrambling  for  high  places  in 
the  new  kingdom,"  remarked  Phaleon  musingly,  wise  in 
his  generation.  "  Tibi  scenae  serviendum  est!  " 

The  skin  crinkled  about  Shealtiel's  eyes. 

"  This  king  shall  be  as  wax  beneath  my  hands.  I 
did  purpose  .  .  .  What  devil  of  folly  possessed  thy 
sister  Bernice  I  To  foul  her  face  so  hideously  with  the 
pigments ! " 

Phaleon  burst  into  a  sudden  laugh. 

"  Nay,  I  call  it  to  mind !  Her  painted  cheeks  came 
forth  from  the  veil  like  old  curds  from  a  bottle! 
Thinking  mine  eyes  strangely  watered, —  I  winked. 
lo  Bacche!  —  being  shut,  they  opened  not  again." 

"  The  lamp  in  her  chamber  was  dim, —  or  the  hollow 
mirror  deceived  her  fingers.  That  old  crone  who  at- 
tendeth  her  is  half  blind  of  age.  Most  unlucky  it  was ! 
Yet  —  the  prince  would  have  stabbed  Barabbas  for  hot 
desire  of  her." 

Quoth  Phaleon  dryly :     "  It  was  ere  she  unveiled." 

"  Nay,  he  marked  her  daubed  face  closely  even  after. 
Moreover  he  was  deep  in  wine.  And  wine  hath  a  fleet- 
ing memory.  Thy  task  begins,  my  son." 

"  Quid  turn!  " 


62  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"  Instil  cunningly  into  his  ear  praises  of  thy  sister 
Bernice,  of  her  beauty  and  wit.  Gods !  I  do  repent 
me  that  in  mine  anger  I  smote  her !  —  she  hath  an  un- 
sightly bruise  that  will  keep  her  hid.  But  do  thou 
bring  her  oft  and  pleasantly  before  his  fancy,  sowing 
the  seed  of  desire." 

"  Peace !  "  cried  Phaleon  with  confidence.  "  If  I 
train  not  the  royal  leopard  to  lick  her  feet, —  spit  on 
me  for  a  braying  ass  of  Edom ! " 

His  father  stood  musing  a  while. 

"  My  Phaleon,  he  babbled  of  some  water-drawer  at 
Siloam.  For  such  fancies, —  they  are  weeds  that 
spring  up  in  a  night,  as  quickly  to  wither,  having  no 
root.  But  do  thou,  O  son,  plant  in  his  heart  a  desire 
of  thy  sister  which,  of  slower  growth,  shall  be  as  an 
olive  tree  —  abiding  forever.  Haste  now !  Arise ! 
Be  thou  in  attendance  as  the  prince  awakes." 

"  Aie !  —  a  pocillum  first  to  cool  my  fevered 
tongue ! "  complained  the  youth,  getting  to  his  feet  and 
going  unsteadily  from  the  room. 

Hyrcanus,  the  last  of  the  Asmoneans,  retained  many 
characteristics  of  that  cruel  brilliant  terrible  line.  A 
certain  madness  in  the  blood  had  been  whipped  to 
ferocity  by  his  outlawed  career  of  desert  warfare.  He 
was  a  prey  to  unbridled  passions. 

The  Asmonean  genius  for  daring  intrigue,  however, 
was  not  lacking  in  him.  He  was  not  to  be  overmatched 
in  guile. 

His  push  for  a  throne  pitted  him  against  desperate 
odds.  His  hope  lay  in  harnessing  together  divers  in- 
terests fiercely  antagonistic. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  63 

To  each  ambitious  self-seeker  he  promised  all  things, 
secretly.  It  was  an  unscrupulous  age,  and  he  em- 
ployed the  recognised  arts  of  kingcraft  to  gain  his 
ends.  Success  depended  chiefly  on  the  gaining  over 
of  the  powerful  Zealot  faction.  For  that  purpose  he 
had  come  in  person  to  Jerusalem.  Negotiations  had 
long  been  carried  on  by  means  of  safe  messengers. 
But  when  the  time  came  for  final  pledges,  those  leaders 
of  the  Zealots  who  had  been  found  amenable  to  suasion 
or  bribe  would  accept  no  mediator. 

While  he  lay  at  the  house  of  Shealtiel,  therefore, 
those  leaders  were  brought  separately  to  him,  and  he 
entered  into  pledges  with  them,  plucking  off  his  shoe 
according  to  ancient  custom. 

Two  days  these  cautious  transactions  absorbed  his 
waking  hours. 

The  third  day,  in  the  hot  hush  of  noon,  he  lay  sleep- 
ing. An  upper  chamber,  long  disused,  to  which  clung 
some  faint  tradition  of  King  Alexander  Janneus,  had 
been  cleansed,  swept,  and  adorned  for  the  prince.  He 
reclined  upon  a  raised  couch  against  the  wall.  Phaleon 
slumbered  near  him  on  a  soft  grass-mat. 

A  slave-boy  whose  task  it  was  to  keep  the  hanging- 
fan  of  peacock  plumes  astir  above  their  heads,  had  also 
yielded  to  the  drowsy  influence  of  the  heat.  He 
drooped  upon  his  knees  with  closed  eyelids,  the  fan- 
string  slack  between  his  fingers. 

Flies  hummed  over  the  half-naked  bodies  of  the 
sleepers. 

Silence  covered  like  a  blanket  all  the  great  house  of 
Shealtiel.  The  dogs  in  the  court,  the  animals  in  the 


64,  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

stable,  were  quiet.  There  was  audible  only  the  whimper 
of  a  restless  child  in  the  women's  quarters  or  gynaeceumy 
at  the  other  end  of  the  stone  corridor. 

Through  this  silence  grew  the  faint  rustle  of  a  gar- 
ment at  the  doorway  of  Hyrcanus's  chamber. 

The  tiny  noise  may  have  caused  Hyrcanus  partly 
to  awake.  He,  whose  life  hung  always  suspended  as 
over  a  gulf,  had  learned  to  sleep  lightly.  His  eyes 
opened. 

Was  it  a  vision  that  appeared  before  him?  There 
stood  the  slender  maid  that  he  had  met  in  the  dusk  at 
the  Pool  of  Siloam!  She  had  mingled  in  his  dreams, 
so  that  this  seemed  but  a  more  vivid  transition  of  dream- 
ing. 

She  wore  her  coarse  blue  mantle  still,  but  now,  in- 
stead of  a  pitcher,  held  in  her  hand  a  pair  of  small 
leather-thonged  sandals  of  palm-leaf,  as  though  she 
had  slipped  them  from  her  feet  to  walk  more  lightly. 
She  pressed  her  finger  to  her  lip,  while  her  eyes,  dark- 
ened, enlarged,  and  sparkling  from  fright,  searched 
his  tranced  face. 

A  moment  longer  he  continued  to  gaze,  doubtful  of 
his  senses,  while  the  figure,  changing  from  its  poise  of 
dread,  glided  into  a  recess  or  narrow  nook  behind  a 
corner  of  the  massive  limestone  wall. 

Hyrcanus  flung  off  sleep  like  a  weight.  He  leaped 
over  Phaleon's  recumbent  limbs,  and  with  a  shout 
hurled  himself  into  the  recess  where  the  vision  had 
vanished. 

He    struck    against    the    solid    stones.     The    shock 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  65 

brought  him  fully  awake,  and  he  recoiled,  dazed  and 
bewildered,  rubbing  his  eyes. 

Phaleon  scrambled  up  from  his  mat  with  exclama- 
tions. The  little  slave  flung  about  a  guilt-stricken 
face  of  wonder  and  instantly  began  to  agitate  the  fan. 

"  Saw  ye  not !  "  cried  Hyrcanus.  "  She  stood  before 
me!  By  God's  splendour!  Even  now  —  here  in  this 
spot  —  she  stood  before  me  like  a  lamp !  " 

"  Domino,  Ditis!     Who !  " 

"  That  little  maid  of  Siloam  —  concerning  whom  I 
have  oft  talked  with  thee!  Plain  as  this  hand  I  saw 
her  here !  And  thou  ?  " 

"  Nay,  I  slept !     But  whither  then  is  she  gone  ?  " 

"  As  I  sprang  up,  she  vanished  into  the  wall  — 
there!" 

Phaleon  checked  an  unwise  impulse  to  laugh. 

"  Thou  hast  had  a  vision !  " 

"  And  thou  ?  "  Hyrcanus  demanded  of  the  slave- 
boy. 

"  Master,  I  have  remained  diligently  awake  plying 
my  fan  the  while  thou  sleptest,  and  naught  hath  entered 
at  the  door." 

"  Thou  liest !  "  exclaimed  Hyrcanus. 

The  boy  prostrated  himself  weeping. 

**  Not  an  eyelid  have  I  shut,  Master !  —  nay,  not  so 
much  as  to  wink !  " 

"  It  may  have  been  a  dream,"  muttered  the  prince, 
passing  a  dubious  hand  across  his  forehead.  *'  Yet  an- 
other dream  like  unto  this  have  I  never  had!  Here  she 
stood,  my  Phaleon, —  clear  as  I  see  thee  now, —  her 


66  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

finger  thus, —  her  sandals  in  her  hand, —  her  eyes  wide. 
...  As  I  live,  I  saw  her  very  bosom's  rise  and 
fall!" 

"  Hercule,  this  is  no  common  dream !  "  said  Phaleon. 
"  Thou  hast  been  visited  by  a  familiar  spirit,  even  as 
thy  great  ancestor  Alexander  Janneus.  Let  us  sum- 
mon my  sister  Bernice.  Her  wit  will  unriddle  thee  this 
portent  as  an  old  wife  untangles  a  slcein  of  wool.  A 
gay  laughing  maid  and  singeth  like  a  selav, —  yet  hath 
she  at  times  a  gift,  a  power  of  soothsaying  —  gods !  I 
know  not  what  .  .  ." 

"  Bid  her  come,"  said  Hyrcanus  sullenly. 
He  sat  upon  the   couch  and  held  his  head  between 
his  hands. 

The  slave-boy,  sent  to  the  gynaeceum,  returned  after 
delay  saying  that  old  Kedemah  had  posted  herself  be- 
tween the  curtains  and  given  him  the  Lady  Bernice's 
positive  refusal  to  appear. 

"  Unclean  little  beast !  "  exclaimed  Phaleon.  "  Thou 
hast  wrongly  worded  my  message !  Were  it  not  so  hot, 
I'd  beat  thee !  Go  again  saying  that  her  father's  guest, 
her  cousin  of  Antioch,  desireth  of  her  the  interpretation 
of  a  dream."  And  to  Hyrcanus,  to  remove  the  un- 
favourable effect,  "  She  hath  a  playful  perversity  with 
me,  who  am  her  brother.  She  meaneth  but  sport  in 
crossing  my  purposes  ever." 

Again  came  the  slave  with  the  same  reply.  He  had 
not  even  been  admitted  to  see  her. 

"By  Pluto,  I  will  go  myself!"  cried  Phaleon, 
springing  up  in  anger.  "  Her  father  shall  compel  her 
to  obey  my  commands ! " 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  67 

"  Peace ! "  muttered  Hyrcanus  with  indifference. 
"  Leave  her  alone !  It  is  naught !  " 

In  the  court  below  began  at  that  moment  a  hideous 
braying,  mingled  with  camel-squeals  and  the  barking  of 
dogs.  Then  sounded  loud  rapid  whacks  of  a  stick  and 
a  strident  human  voice, — 

"  Esau !  —  hill  of  bones !  —  miserable  mountain  of 
hair!  Thou  coverest  me  with  shame  as  ashes!  How 
hast  thou  wrought  folly  in  the  gate!  O  eater  of  dust! 
Up!  Likenest  thyself  unto  a  dungheap?  Up!  Up! 
What!  Refusest?  Barest  wickedly  thy  yellow  teeth? 
And  at  thy  master?  What  camel  of  Gerasa  hath  been 
loved  like  unto  thee !  Ask  from  one  side  of  heaven  unto 
the  other!  Esau!  Rebellious  one!  How  have  I 
cherished  a  monster  in  my  bosom ! " 

Phaleon,  who  had  stepped  out  on  the  upper  porch 
to  see,  returned  laughing. 

"  A  camel,  heavy  laden,  hath  encountered  a  string  of 
asses  in  the  gate  and  lain  down.  Hear  thou  its  driver! 
He  is  one  Nadab, —  crack-brained  but  carrying  both 
wit  and  folly  in  his  skull  like  vinegar  and  oil  in  a 
dish  of  lettuces.  Amongst  other  trades  he  divineth 
dreams." 

Hyrcanus  brightened. 

"  Bring  me  this  diviner  of  dreams !  " 

Being  summoned,  Nadab,  who  had  taught  his  camel 
more  tricks  than  the  public  suspected,  soon  persuaded 
the  animal  to  find  its  feet,  extricated  it  from  the  con- 
fusion, and  led  it  to  the  stable. 

He  came  then  up  into  the  house  with  his  faded  bur- 
noose  tucked  in  his  leather  girdle. 


68  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

As  he  entered  the  chamber  his  quick  odd  eyes  danced 
under  his  black  tangle  of  horselike  hair.  He  put  on 
a  great  show  of  awe  at  the  splendid  surroundings, 
cast  himself  upon  his  face  before  the  couch,  and  caused 
his  limbs  visibly  to  tremble. 

"  Lo  now,  O  diviner  of  dreams, —  vates, —  animus 
divinans,'*  said  Phaleon  stirring  him  carelessly  with 
the  toe  of  his  slipper.  "  Thou  to  whom  all  darkness 
is  day,  or  at  worst  twilight, —  here  sitteth  my  cousin 
of  Antioch,  who  hath  had  a  vision." 

The  camel-driver  writhed  before  Hyrcanus  in  well- 
simulated  terror. 

"  Alas ! "  he  groaned.  "  Even  as  I  beheld  thy  cousin 
of  Antioch,  appeared  before  mine  eyes  red  waves  as 
it  were  blood,  quick  tossings  and  foamings  like  unto  a 
tempest  on  Gennesaret.  On  those  waves  floated  a  chair 
adorned  with  sapphires,  glorious  with  rubies,  and  be- 
neath the  chair  broken  fasces  and  a  drowned  eagle. 
Much  troubled  in  spirit  I  cast  myself  down,  for  I  per- 
ceive this  cousin  of  thine  of  Antioch  to  be  no  common 
person." 

The  young  men  looked  at  one  another  amazed. 
Finally  Hyrcanus  spoke. 

"  A  most  cunning  liar  art  thou  or  a  great  sooth- 
sayer. What  thou  claimest  to  have  perceived  —  nay, 
leave  it  unsaid!  I  would  have  thee  only  to  divine  my 
dream." 

Nadab  lifted  his  upper  parts  and  squatted  on  his 
heels. 

"  Tell  thou  the  dream,  lord." 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  69 

As  he  listened  to  the  narrative,  his  swarthy  features 
lengthened  portentously.  When  it  concluded, — 

"  O  Master,"  said  he,  "  this  is  indeed  a  wondrous 
dream,  and  the  interpretation  thereof  I  may  tell  into 
no  ear  save  thine  ear  alone." 

"  Nay,  then,  I  go, —  vado!  "  said  Phaleon  and  went 
out,  followed  by  the  slave. 

The  camel-driver  went  to  the  doorway,  listened  a 
while  to  the  departing  footsteps,  came  again  with  an 
air  of  mystery,  and  squatted  before  Hyrcanus.  His 
actions  were  designed  to  awe  and  impress  the  prince. 

But  although  it  was  a  credulous  age,  Hyrcanus  was 
no  novice  as  to  the  wiles  of  tricksters.  A  threatening 
look  darkened  his  brow. 

"  O  rash  diviner  of  dreams,"  said  he,  "  if  thou  be 
not  that  thou  seemest,  the  fingers  of  death  are  even  now 
catching  at  thy  hair." 

Nadab  was  a  man  of  ready  wits,  bold  and  adroit. 
He  smiled,  with  teeth  agleam,  tossing  back  his  tangle 
of  hair,  to  demonstrate  his  care-free  innocence. 

"  Judge  thou !  Nay,  I  foresee  how  my  lord  will 
throw  his  servant  a  gold  aureus  on  learning  the  inter- 
pretation of  his  dream." 

"  Say  on.     Fear  not  for  thy  reward." 

"  O  favourite  of  beautiful  women, —  the  vision  was 
indeed  thy  familiar  spirit.  For  that  she  seemed  to 
wait, —  a  lady  awaiteth  thee  with  longing.  For  that 
she  held  her  finger  on  her  lip, —  she  enjoineth  secrecy 
in  the  matter.  For  that  her  gown  was  of  blue,  edged 
with  red,  which  together  do  make  purple, —  she  is  of 


70  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

royal  birth, —  yea,  a  king's  daughter, —  or  perchance  a 
queen's.  Her  gown  appearing  of  poor  quality, —  she 
lacketh  somewhat, —  nay,  she  lacketh  thy  love,  and  de- 
sireth  it  greatly.  Her  house-sandals  of  palm-leaf  be- 
ing in  her  hand  .  .  .  lo,  she  awaiteth  thee  not  on 
common  ground  but  in  a  place  of  royal  palms.  Why 
not  the  King's  Paradise?  " 

A  moment  Hyrcanus  sat  in  deep  reflection,  his  eyes 
narrowed  to  slits,  through  which  he  studied  keenly  the 
camel-driver's  face. 

"  Beyond  a  doubt  thou  meanest  the  daughter  of  Hero- 
dias." 

"  She  doth  in  very  truth  visit  Jerusalem  for  the 
Feast  of  Trumpets !  "  cried  Nadab  with  a  face  of  sur- 
prised simplicity. 

"  There  hath  been  assigned  unto  her  for  a  lodging 
the  Tower  of  PhasaJus  in  the  garden  of  the  king's  pal- 
ace." 

"  As  in  a  mirror  thou  mayest  see  it !  How  art  thou 
blest!" 

"  Bearer  of  messages  from  the  Lady  Salome, —  how 
knowest  thou  me?" 

"  I  know  thee  ?  Nay,  hath  not  the  Lord  Phaleon 
told  me  saying  that  thou  wert  his  cousin  of  Antioch?  " 

He  bowed  meekly,  smiling  in  his  sleeve.  But  he  over- 
estimated the  credulity  of  the  prince.  Hyrcanus 
pounced  leopard-like  upon  him,  seized  him  by  the  fore- 
lock, and  pressed  the  sharp  dagger-point  against  the 
hollow  of  his  throat. 

"  Say  how  thou  knewest  me !  A  lie  is  thine  instant 
death!" 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  71 

"  O  mighty  prince,  spare  me !     I  will  speak !  " 

"  Say  quickly  then, —  ere  thy  heart  may  forge  new 
lies." 

In  real  fear  and  trembling  now,  the  camel-driver 
spoke. 

"  I,  Nadab,  do  travel  with  mine  Esau  from  Dan  even 
unto  Beersheba.  Everywhere  am  I  a  picker-up  of  tales, 
of  marvels,  of  new  things,  of  happenings  both  great  and 
small,  which  one  that  travelleth  on  the  roads  may  hear 
at  the  khans  and  wayside  wells.  How  could  I  not  know 
concerning  thy  face,  thy  stature,  thy  manner  of  speech, 
O  Prince,  of  whom  the  whole  land  is  filled  with  rumours ! 
Nay,  even  thyself  have  I  looked  upon  ere  now." 

"Where?" 

"  Last  year  in  the  month  Tammuz  we  did  venture  into 
the  wilderness  of  Perea,  I  and  Esau,  journeying  with 
a  load  of  botnim  nuts  and  oil  unto  Zoroa.  And  at  Sal- 
cah,  whilst  there  we  lay  for  the  night,  thou  and  Barab- 
bas  did  attack  and  burn  the  town." 

"  Yea,  I  remember.  The  inhabitants  had  stoned  to 
death  two  messengers  of  ours." 

"  Barabbas  did  order  all  the  captives  slain,  I  and 
Esau  being  amongst  the  number.  But  thou,  lord,  didst 
spare  our  life." 

"Wherefore  did  I?" 

"  Thou  didst  need  a  messenger  to  bear  letters  to 
Bostra,  and  didst  choose  out  me  and  Esau.  Thus  were 
we  spared  to  be  thy  slave  and  debtor  forever ! " 

"  Hast  thou  whereby  to  signify  that  thou  truly  comest 
from  the  daughter  of  Herodias  ?  " 

Nadab  drew  from  the  unsightly  folds  of  his  burnoose 


72  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

a  scarab  ring  of  peculiar  Sidonian  design  bearing  the 
royal  seal  of  the  house  of  Trachonitis. 

"  She  sendeth  my  lord  this." 

Hyrcanus  released  the  man  and  sat  a  while  silent 
looking  at  the  ring. 

"  Wisely  hast  thou  done,"  said  he  at  last,  "  to  gain 
mine  ear  in  private  on  this  matter.  Here  beneath  mine 
eye  shalt  thou  remain  until  nightfall,  when  I  will  accom- 
pany thee.  But  breathe  so  much  as  a  whisper  of  this, — 
and  by  my  father's  head  I  will  pluck  thee  out  of  thy 
skin!" 


VII 

AT  the  eastern  end  of  the  paradise  or  king's  gar- 
den, within  the  walled  precincts  of  Herod's  long- 
deserted  palace  on  Zion,   stood  the  Tower  of 
Phasselus. 

This  tower,  wellnigh  a  complete  palace  in  itself,  had 
been  assigned  by  the  government  to  the  Princess  Salome 
during  her  sojourn  at  Jerusalem.  Here  dwelt  tempora- 
rily the  beautiful  wanton  young  widow  of  Philip,  late 
Tetrarch  of  Trachonitis,  attended  by  her  army  of  slaves 
and  guards. 

The  old  moon,  near  its  death,  was  not  yet  risen. 
The  tower  loomed  dark  under  the  jewelled  Judean  sky. 
Among  clumps  of  fronded  palms,  pomegranates,  and 
figs,  in  the  forbidden  grounds  of  the  paradise,  impene- 
trable blackness  brooded. 

Watchmen  in  the  city  streets  were  calling  the  hour 
in  long-drawn  cries  that  evoked  the  barking  of  dogs, 
when  two  men  came  swiftly  and  softly  to  a  little  postern- 
door  at  the  base  of  the  Tower  of  Phasaelus.  They 
were  wrapped  to  the  mouth  in  their  mantles  against 
the  cold  night-air. 

The  shorter  of  the  two  knocked. 

A  grille  in  the  door  slid  open.  A  broad  shiny  Nubian 
face  peered  out  through  the  iron  lattice  in  a  gush  of 
ruddy  light. 

73 


74  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"Who  knocketh?" 

"  O  noble  Abaddon,  unbar  the  door !  It  is  Nadab, 
thy  poor  friend  who  brought  thee  the  salve  for  thy  sore 
eye.  Nadab  it  is,  the  humblest  and  most  industrious  of 
Salome's  servants !  Make  haste,  thou  heaven-scraping 
citadel  of  ebony, —  the  night  is  cold !  " 

"  Not  so  fast,  camel-driver !  Thy  salve,  although  of 
the  poorest,  hath  not  yet  blinded  me !  One  lurketh  by 
the  wall  so  muffled  in  his  cloak  I  see  scarce  more  than 
his  glittering  eyes.  Who  is  that  one  ?  " 

"  Why  loiter  to  inquire  ?  Seest  thou  not  this  ring 
which  I  hold  against  thy  sooty  nose  ?  " 

Unfastening  many  bars  and  chains  the  huge  eunuch 
swung  open  the  door  and  stood  grinning  on  the  thresh- 
hold.  His  left  hand  lifted  high  a  perforated  square 
lantern  to  cast  its  ruddy  rays  over  both  visitors ;  his 
right  held  ready  a  curved  sword,  on  whose  broad  bright 
steel  the  wind-shaken  flame  flickered. 

"  By  my  fathers'  idols !  "  he  muttered  with  a  curiosity 
at  once  jocose  and  formidable.  "  What  art  thou,  O 
crooked  little  creature  called  Nadab !  A  score  of  times 
hath  the  princess  sent  her  women  asking  if  thou  be  yet 
come !  Thy  delay  hath  kindled  in  her  a  fever.  Thrice 
have  I  been  summoned  to  beat  before  her  a  tiring-woman 
or  two,  to  assuage  her  humour.  I  would  give  this  thumb 
to  know  what  she  seeketh  of  thee, —  thou  thing  of  hump 
and  hair, —  thou  dwarfish  camel !  " 

"  Camels  do  oft  bear  gold,  my  good  Abaddon." 

"  Gold  ?  —  thou  !  Place  thou  straightway  a  sample 
of  thy  gold  in  this  palm !  " 

"  Nay,  I  bring  more  precious  than  gold, —  I  bring 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  75 

love.  What  use  makest  thou  of  love, —  dark  shadow  of 
man!" 

"  Enter !  "  exclaimed  the  black. 

Nadab  and  that  other  muffled  one  who  accompanied 
him  entered  a  narrow  passageway  from  which  a  flight  of 
back-stairs  ran  up  to  the  nobler  portions  of  the  tower. 

The  eunuch  stretched  out  his  sword  to  strike  a  red 
copper  disc  that  hung  upon  the  wall.  But  Nadab,  start- 
ing at  an  angered  gesture  of  his  silent  companion, 
cried, — 

"  Stay !  Summon  no  one !  She  awaiteth  us,  thou 
knowest ! " 

The  two  then  went  quickly  up  the  staircase  into  a 
marble  outer-chamber  half  Grecian  in  design.  On  the 
Mosaic  pavement  a  woman  who  had  been  recently  flogged 
lay  weeping,  with  dishevelled  hair  and  blood-stained 
garment.  The  whip  of  knotted  cords,  flung  down,  re- 
mained beside  her.  Over  her  on  the  white  wall  burned 
three  candles  in  a  bronze  sconce.  She  hearing  the  ap- 
proach of  feet  stifled  her  sobs  a  moment  and  lifted  her 
tear-smeared  face  shadowed  by  her  hair. 

"  Thou  seest,  lord,"  whispered  Nadab  laughing  si- 
lently, "  with  what  impatience  Salome  doth  await  news 
of  thee ! " 

A  heavy  curtain  of  Tyrian  purple  that  extended  from 
ceiling  to  floor  closed  the  farther  end  of  the  chamber. 
The  stiff  silken  folds  rubbed  and  hissed  softly  on  a 
draught  of  air. 

As  the  two  visitors  were  advancing,  the  curtain  sud- 
denly parted.  The  daughter  of  Herodias  rushed  out 
upon  them  with  a  startling  fierce  swiftness. 


76  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

The  encounter  was  as  unexpected  by  Salome  as  the 
others.  Her  lithe  body  recoiled.  Her  clinging  robe 
of  pale  topaz  yellow  settled  into  lines  of  statuesque  grace 
about  her  superb  limbs,  against  the  purple  background. 
For  a  moment  she  stood  poised,  while  petals  of  blue  lotos 
buds  in  her  hair,  loosened  by  the  abrupt  arrest  of  mo- 
tion, fell  down  in  a  little  shower. 

Her  burning  excited  eyes  flashed  a  challenge. 

"  So !  "  she  breathed. 

No  trace  of  alarm  showed  on  her  dark  oval  face. 
The  armed  guards,  indeed,  held  the  main  staircase  just 
beyond ;  —  a  faint  clashing  of  metal  was  audible  as  they 
moved  about  below. 

Nadab  prostrated  himself  at  her  feet. 

"  Thou  hast  finally  then  seen  fit  to  return,"  said  Sa- 
lome in  a  voice  deepened  by  wrath.  "  Ere  the  cool  of 
the  day  wast  thou  to  have  thy  message  in  my  hands. 
Instead  of  a  silver  mina  thou  shalt  receive  thirty  stripes, 
—  one  for  each  shekel.  Abaddon  shall  beat  upon  thy 
skin  as  on  a  drum ! " 

"  O  fair  moon  of  the  paradise ! "  groaned  Nadab 
wriggling  his  shoulders.  "  0  great  cistern  of  kings' 
loves !  Silver  minae  will  pour  from  thy  white  hand  upon 
thy  poor  servant  as  the  latter  rain  upon  En-gedi  when 
thou  nearest  my  story ! " 

Salome's  splendid  angry  eyes  flickered  over  the  other 
man. 

"  And  this  one  that  deigneth  not  so  much  as  to  bend 
before  me !  By  what  name  art  thou  called  ?  " 

But  even  as  she  asked,  expectation  quickened  her 
features.  She  started  slightly,  looked  again,  then 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  77 

breathed  a  little  dubious  laugh  like  the  first  low  notes  of 
the  Syrian  nightingale. 

"  Can  this  thing  be !  "  she  murmured. 

The  man  lifted  aside  his  enshrouding  cloak  and  dis- 
closed the  dark  face  of  Hyrcanus. 

A  swift  pallor  swept  Salome's  cheeks,  followed  by  a 
rise  of  colour. 

"  Thou  art  bold  beyond  all  foretelling !  "  she  said 
softly.  "  I  looked  but  for  a  message." 

"  Into  lesser  hands  I  might  not  entrust  a  message  so 
precious." 

"Thou  dost  not  fear?" 

"  Zeal  swallows  up  discretion." 

Half  tauntingly,  as  if  to  challenge  his  courage,  she 
swept  apart  the  purple  curtain,  inviting  him  to  enter. 

They  passed  in. 

The  heavy  folds  of  silk  fell  behind  them  like  a  hissing 
of  serpents  and  hid  them  from  Nadab  and  the  sobbing 
slave- woman. 

Hyrcanus  followed  Salome  to  a  small  inner  chamber 
or  cabinet  embellished  with  those  forbidden  images  in 
which  Herod's  artistic  fancy,  always  pagan  and  Grecian, 
had  rioted.  She  sank  upon  an  ivory  couch,  stretched 
her  smooth  limbs  slowly  along  cushions  of  swan's-down, 
and  gazed  upon  him  with  sly  luring  eyes. 

"  O  rash  Hyrcanus ! "  she  murmured,  and  smiled. 
She  was  silent  a  moment,  and  again,  "  O  bold  Hyrcanus 
...  In  thine  own  person  thou  didst  come  to  me !  — 
But  so  thou  makest  war  ever, —  striking  swiftly,  like  the 
eagle,  ere  thine  enemy  may  prepare." 

Between   Salome  and  the  outlawed   claimant  of  the 


78  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

Judean  crown  had  formerly  passed  secret  overtures 
which  hitherto  had  come  to  naught  because  of  mutual 
distrust.  It  was  an  era  of  glorified  treachery  and  as- 
sassination which  was  called  statecraft.  Hyrcanus 
knew  well  that  in  entering  Salome's  cabinet  he  risked 
being  set  upon  and  stabbed  by  concealed  swordsmen. 
For  that  reason  he  put  his  back  against  the  nearest 
wall.  A  consciousness  of  hidden  peril  dilated  his  nos- 
tril and  kindled  his  eye. 

"  Art  thou  one  of  those  enemies?  "  he  inquired. 

Observing  the  alert  poise  of  that  stern  head,  the 
wanton  daughter  of  Herodias  cast  her  sly  looks  and 
smiles  upon  his  martial  comeliness  in  a  more  and  more 
inviting  manner. 

"  Why  f earest  thou  me,  Hyrcanus  ?  " 

"  Beauty  such  as  Salome's  is  more  ruinous  than  a  lost 
battle." 

"  Not  my  beauty  thou  f  earest,  0  sweet-tongued 
speaker !  —  it  is  mine  armed  men  that  guard  the  stair- 
case." 

"  I  fear  them  not  at  all,"  he  answered  calmly ;  "  for 
I  hold  as  in  the  hollow  of  my  hand  a  pledge  of  peace." 
He  flung  back  his  cloak  to  show  the  steel  corselet  on 
his  breast  and  the  short  heavy  Roman  sword  at  his 
thigh.  "  Thou  are  my  pledge,  0  beautiful  Salome." 

Her  low  laughter  like  a  pleasant  ripple  of  waters 
played  against  the  grim  threat. 

"  I  perceive  with  joy  thou  art  not  altogether  reck- 
less, my  Hyrcanus.  But  if  thou  imaginest  peril  await- 
ing thee  in  this  house,  wherefore  didst  thou  venture 
in?  " 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  79 

"  Who  would  not  outbrave  death  itself  to  gaze  on 
her  of  whose  beauty  the  whole  world  rings !  " 

"  Alas,  thou  findest  it  to  ring  false  —  like  a  cracked 
shufa.  Thou  standest  there  against  the  wall,  poor  de- 
ceived one,  stiff  and  cold  from  disappointment." 

"  Nay,  I  am  awed,  as  one  beholding  Jerusalem  set 
about  with  banners  for  the  great  Feast." 

Again  she  laughed  softly.  Her  magnificent  sinful 
eyes  continually  lured  him. 

"  Thy  tongue  is  as  the  first  serpent's  for  sweetness," 
she  retorted.  "  Yet  will  I  never  believe  that  this  poor 
face  alone  drew  thee.  O  Hyrcanus,  thou  art  not  alto- 
gether foolish.  Too  long  hast  thou  dwelt,  a  hungry 
lion,  on  the  borders  of  Gaulinitis  and  Galilee. —  Too 
oft  hast  thou  slipped  with  blood-dripping  jaws  between 
the  closing  bands  of  Antipas  and  Philip !  —  nay,  verily, 
I  know  thee  to  be  bold  and  clever.  Speak!  What 
brought  thee?  " 

But  he,  guarded  as  herself  in  this  diplomatic  fencing: 

"  Thou  didst  express  a  desire  to  behold  me,  O  fair 
daughter  of  Herodias,  and  I  have  come." 

"  Close-mouthed  art  thou,  wise  Hyrcanus, —  for  all 
thy  pretty  speeches.  Shall  I  tell  thee  wherefore  thou 
didst  come  ?  "  She  leaned  forward,  holding  him  with 
her  artful  eyes.  "  Thou  didst  say  to  thyself,  *  This 
daughter  of  Herodias,  of  whom  I  have  heard  that  she 
maketh  certain  slight  claims  to  beauty, —  who  indeed 
may  be  indifferent  fair ' —  nay,  most  like  thou  didst 
unpack  the  bitterness  of  thy  heart  in  harsh  words  say- 
ing, *  This  accursed  meddling  widow  of  Philip  hath 
discovered  that  I  lie  hid  thus  in  Jerusalem,  and  hath 


80  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

me  as  in  a  net,  for  if  she  drop  a  word  in  the  ear  of 
Annas  or  the  Roman,  I  am  surely  lost ! '  So  saying  thou 
didst  drag  thyself  sorrowfully  hither  judging  of  two 
deaths  this  the  less  painful." 

Hyrcanus  smiled. 

"  A  most  sweet  death !  "  said  he.  "  O  Salome,  partly 
hast  thou  guessed  my  mind.  I  said,  '  This  fairest  of 
women,  knowing  my  hiding-place,  held  a  knife  at  my 
heart.  Yet  did  she  not  slay,  but  summoneth  me  unto 
her  instead.  What  then  must  I  believe?  That  she 
hath  evil  designs  against  me  ?  Nay ! '  And  so  I  came 
joyfully,  perceiving  thy  goodwill." 

Silent  a  while,  Salome  stirred  a  golden-thonged  san- 
dal among  the  piled  cushions. 

"Thou  hast  judged  rightly,  O  Hyrcanus,  eagle- 
sighted  Asmonean."  After  another  pause,  with  a  sigh, 
"Thou  hast  judged  well.  I  am  not  thine  enemy;  — 
nay,  if  all  thine  enemies  were  as  I,  thou  mightest  even 
now  be  seated  on  the  throne  of  thy  fathers,  the  glory 
of  the  world !  "  Then  after  yet  another  pause,  trifling 
womanlike  with  her  purpose,  "  Mayest  thou  not  discern, 
my  Hyrcanus,  why  I  am  not  thine  enemy?  " 

"  How  may  I  comprehend  it !  Art  thou  not  of  the 
house  of  my  enemies !  Doth  not  the  Tetrarch  Antipas, 
thy  mother's  husband,  wage  war  against  me!  Yea, 
doth  he  not,  spurred  on  by  ambition,  seek  eagerly  this 
Judean  crown  at  Caesar's  hands  ?  " 

"  And  what  if  my  mother's  daughter  seek  also  a 
crown  ? "  she  breathed  softly,  smiling  a  faint  smile 
askance. 

She  had  revealed  the  purpose  of  her  overtures. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  81 

Salome  with  all  her  wealth,  rank,  and  beauty,  faced 
as  the  widow  of  Philip  only  a  closed  career.  Her 
glory  was  eclipsed,  her  power  departed.  A  dependent 
now  of  royal  kinsmen,  a  hanger-on  of  others'  courts, 
what  more  natural  than  that  her  imperious  spirit  should 
disdain  such  a  fate  and  attempt  a  perilous  but  loftier 
goal! 

This  Hyrcanus  had  long  half-surmised;  but  at  her 
confession  his  eyes  flashed,  he  strode  a  step  nearer  her. 

"  Sayest  thou  so,  Salome!  Wouldst  thou  join 
strengths  with  me, —  thou  of  the  ruling  Herodian  line, 
—  I  an  outlaw  of  the  desert !  " 

"  That  Herodian  line  declineth  toward  eternal  night, 
I  fear,"  she  said  slowly,  and  looked  down.  "  Archelaus 
banished  to  cold  Gothic  wilds,  Agrippa  a  fugitive  from 
debt  crouching  in  Caesar's  train,  Antipas  holding  shakily 
a  cupful  of  that  great  sea  of  men  his  father's  sceptre 
ruled, —  is  it  not  doomed !  .  .  .  And  here  in  Jerusalem 
the  marble  palace  of  Herod,  empty,  waiteth  and  waiteth 
the  coming  of  its  new  king.  .  .  .  Who  will  be  that  king? 
Who  will  grasp  the  glory  and  the  power?  One  of  the 
soft  Herodian  sons  ?  —  Nay,  but  a  man !  " 

Hyrcanus  sank  on  his  knee  beside  her  and  seized  her 
hands  in  his. 

"  That  man,"  cried  he,  "  will  be  twice  a  man  if  he 
have  such  a  woman  as  thou  beside  him ! " 

She  leaned  forward;  her  warm  breath  played  on  his 
forehead;  the  faint  sweet  odour  of  lotos  buds  crept 
about  his  face. 

"  Such  a  man  I  saw  once,"  she  murmured.  "  It  was 
at  Scythopolis.  In  the  tower  over  the  gate  sat  the  Te- 


82  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

trarchs  Antipas  and  Philip  among  their  women  and 
watched  afar  the  smoke  of  burning  and  battle.  Mes- 
sengers came  with  furious  speed  and  shouts  of  victory. 
The  Tetrarchs  called  for  wine ;  the  city-walls  rocked 
with  the  rejoicings.  And  then  —  I  know  not  to  this 
hour  how  it  came  about, —  they  had  said  Hyrcanus  was 
entrapped, —  suddenly  arose  a  great  outcry, —  a  rush- 
ing as  it  were  a  storm  of  dust,  in  the  dust  flashes  of 
steel  from  headpieces,  spears,  shields,  and  swords, 
riderless  horses  galloping  and  neighing,  —  men  who  had 
flung  away  their  arms,  screaming  in  terror.  And  over 
them  poured  a  dark  torrent  of  riders  trampling  and 
hewing  even  to  the  gate ;  and  one  who  perceived  the 
Tetrarchs  amongst  the  women  over  the  gate  rode  under 
the  walls  and  taunted  them.  Then,  my  Hyrcanus,  then 
it  was  I  saw  .  .  ."  Her  fragrant  head  sank  lower;  the 
long  black  lashes  curtained  her  eyes  of  soft  lambent 
flame ;  her  full-orbed  bosom  rose  and  fell  rapidly  with 
signs  of  confused  passionate  feeling.  But  as  he 
reached  eagerly  to  embrace  her,  "  Nay,  not  so ! "  she 
laughed  swaying  backward. 

"  Thou  shalt  be  my  queen !  "  he  cried.  "  By  God's 
splendour,  I  will  drive  out  these  Roman  dogs,  every  one 
with  his  tail  betwixt  his  hinder  parts !  Here  will  I 
build  thee  a  kingdom  that  will  stretch  from  the  sun's 
rising  unto  his  setting!  The  whole  earth  shall  fall 
down  and  kiss  thy  sandal !  They  shall  blow  away  the 
dust  from  before  thee !  May  fire  consume  me  if  I  seat 
thee  not  on  a  throne  of  pure  gold !  " 

"  Big    words    speakest    thou ! "    she    taunted.     Her 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  83 

magic  eyes  drew  him  on  while  her  soft  perfumed  palms 
pushed  away  his  too  impetuous  lips. 

"  Because  my  heart  is  big,"  he  boasted.  "  Crucify 
me  if  I  do  not  make  Cassar  bow  down  and  tie  thy  shoe- 
latchets  !  For  thy  love  will  I  do  this  thing !  " 

"  Perjured  talker !  Yet  thus  would  I  be  wooed !  Be- 
hind thee  as  thou  speakest  I  seem  to  hear  a  crash  of 
falling  towers, —  in  thine  eyes  so  near,  I  see  a  flame  of 
burning  towns.  Thou  rushest  on  me  like  a  world- 
fire.  .  .  ."  Of  a  sudden  her  mood  changed.  She  hov- 
ered over  him  in  fanciful  alarm.  "  Ah,  my  love,  hast 
thou  considered  what  dangers  assail  thee  —  enmeshed 
in  the  walled  city  of  thy  foes !  A  slave's  whisper  in 
the  ear  of  Annas  .  .  ." 

"  Fear  not,"  he  answered.  "  Daily  I  bind  unto  me 
by  bribes  and  promises  the  leaders  of  the  Zealots.  Soon, 
soon  out  of  the  east  shall  descend  a  flood  of  horsemen. 
Then  shall  the  multitude  rise  against  the  hated  Ro- 
man .  .  ." 

But  still  she  shook  her  head. 

"  Nay,  I  like  it  not !  Thou  perilest  too  much  thine 
own  life  as  if  it  were  a  common  man's.  Oh,  that  I 
might  guard  thy  head !  "  She  removed  from  her  throat 
a  golden  chain  and  peculiar  amethyst  stone  and  flung  it, 
still  warm,  about  his  neck.  "  Lo,  my  Hyrcanus !  This 
is  my  sleep-stone,  a  potent  charm.  It  cometh  out  of 
Egypt.  Now  promise  me  if  peril  seem  to  threaten 
thee  either  by  day  or  night,  thou  wilt  straightway  send 
unto  me  this  token  by  a  swift  and  sure  messenger! 
Two  hundred  Trachonitian  spearsmen  attend  me,  every 


84  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

one  a  picked  man  of  war  having  spear  and  sword  and 
harness.  Like  a  new  Semiramis  will  I  muster  my  war- 
riors and  rush  to  thine  aid ! " 

"  Small  need,  my  love,  of  such  a  deed  of  war  by  these 
tender  hands  that  can  scarce  lift  a  sword." 

"  Nay,  but  promise !  " 

"Why  promise  when  the  hour  is  almost  at  hand?" 

"  Promise, —  that  I  may  sleep !  " 

"  Yea,  then,  J  promise.  But  what  need  of  these 
fears!  The  time  is  ripe.  The  city  will  fall  into  my 
lap  as  an  apple  in  due  season.  Everywhere  the  multi- 
tude crieth  for  change.  At  a  rallying-cry  the  rabble 
will  rise  in  the  streets  to  stone  their  rulers.  Why,  the 
stars  in  their  high  courses  fight  for  me!  All  things 
cry  change ! " 

Salome's  splendid  guilty  eyes  fixed  a  moment  on  re- 
mote distance.  A  shudder  passed  over  her  and  was 
gone. 

"  Thou  speakest  truth,"  she  said  slowly.  "  All 
things  cry  change.  Dead  prophets  cry  it  from  the 
dust.  ...  I  seem  but  now  to  see  rising  out  of  the 
ground  the  dark  head  of  that  fierce  leader  of  the  popu- 
lace, who  assailed  my  mother !  John  was  he  called  .  .  ." 
She  breathed  more  deeply.  "  There  is  a  new  thing  — 
I  know  not  how  to  phrase  it !  —  a  new  thing  coming 
on  the  world, —  vast,  dreadful,  shaking  the  pillars  of 
the  temples  and  the  thrones  of  kings !  .  .  .  I  grow  cold ! 
—  Warm  me  with  thy  lips !  " 

Their  lips  met  and  clung. 

In  the  quiet  was  heard  at  first  only  a  faint  clashing 
of  armour  on  the  outer  staircase,  where  the  armed  men 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  85 

stood.  Then  out  of  the  night  rushed  a  sudden  strong 
wind  which  shook  the  thick-walled  tower  to  its  founda- 
tions, and  all  the  casements  and  lattices  rattled. 

The  wind  passed  on  into  the  night,  and  again  all  was 
silent. 


VIII 

AS  Hyrcanus  had  planned  his  uprising  for  the 
Fastday  of  Gedaliah,  which  would  occur  soon 
after  the  new  moon  of  Tishri,  he  lost  no  op- 
portunity meantime  to  examine  the  Roman  military 
posts  in  the  Upper  and  Lower  Cities. 

For  this  purpose  he  went  about  the  streets,  accom- 
panied by  Phaleon.  The  two  young  men,  attired  as 
Phoenician  sea-traders,  well  hooded,  were,  for  precau- 
tion's sake,  followed  at  some  distance  by  half  a  dozen 
Zealots,  all  bearing  swords  under  their  garments. 

They  accomplished  this  adventure  several  times  with- 
out mishap. 

On  the  last  day  of  Elul,  as  they  returned  through 
the  noisy  crowded  marketplace,  Hyrcanus  suddenly  and 
mysteriously  disappeared.  Phaleon,  who  was  thread- 
ing a  passage  among  the  fruit-stalls,  turned,  thinking 
the  prince  at  his  heels,  and  found  him  not. 

"  Extdbuit  barbarus!  "  muttered  the  youth.  He  be- 
gan to  gaze  about  as  if  idly.  "  Hath  some  thief  popped 
him  into  a  melon-sack  ?  " 

It  was  already  sunset.  Under  the  yellow  afterglow 
the  noise  and  energy  of  the  traffickers  had  increased. 
An  old  hag  thrust  sweet  oranges  of  Michmash  under 
Phaleon's  nose.  A  boy  darted  from  beneath  a  crimson- 
striped  awning  to  scream  at  him  the  virtues  of  black 

86 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  87 

dates  of  Jericho.  Water-carriers  beat  their  brass  discs. 
Beggars  howled  and  wailed  for  alms. 

But  Hyrcanus  was  nowhere  to  be  seen. 

Came  presently  the  six  Zealots  shouldering  through 
the  crowd.  Phaleon  gave  a  covert  sign  expressive  of 
his  loss.  They  understood  and  quickly  scattered 
through  the  marketplace.  But  after  a  while  they  came 
back  one  by  one,  shaking  their  heads. 

Alarm  had  begun  to  take  hold  of  them. 

"  We  dare  not  return  with  this  tale,"  whispered  Pha- 
leon. "  Barabbas  will  tear  our  throats !  I  am  cold  with 
fear!  Hiems  letalis  in  pectoral  What  folly  is  this! 
Could  the  Pharisees  lay  hold  on  him  in  the  very  market- 
place !  —  could  they  lead  him  off  as  in  a  bridle,  without 
an  outcry !  Look  again,  more  sharply !  " 

They  pushed  the  search  through  the  market-stands, 
shops,  and  near-by  streets,  but  in  vain. 

It  became  night.  The  market  was  emptied  by  degrees 
of  its  buyers  and  sellers.  Pariah  dogs  prowled  with 
savage  sounds  among  the  refuse. 

At  last  Phaleon  conceived  the  desperate  hope  that  the 
prince  might  have  gone  home  by  another  way.  With 
that,  he  set  off  running,  and  arrived  breathless  at  his 
father's  gate. 

Some  rumour  of  the  disaster  seemed  already  to  have 
penetrated  Shealtiel's  house.  A  row  of  women's  heads 
peered  down  from  the  housetop.  The  gate  stood  open. 
In  the  court  lanterns  flitted  to  and  fro  like  fireflies.  A 
confused  clutter  of  voices  and  running  feet  pervaded 
the  gloom  of  the  porches. 

As  Phaleon  rushed  in  through  the  archway  from  the 


88  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

porter's  lodge,  he  was  pounced  upon  by  his  father  and 
Barabbas. 

"  Comest  thou  alone !  —  What  of  Hyrcanus !  " 

"  Hath  he  not  returned  alone !  "  stammered  the  youth. 

"  Where  was  he  lost,  fool !  —  Speak !  " 

"  As  we  came  through  the  marketplace,  amongst  the 
fruit  stalls,  I  leading, —  he  vanished  as  into  water !  We 
raked  the  crowds,  the  shops,  the  streets  and  by-ways. 
It  was  as  if  we  hunted  for  a  wind  in  a  field !  And  you?  " 

"  We  were  sending  forth  in  search." 

"  Crucify  me !  "  roared  Barabbas,  crushing  suddenly 
the  pale  city-youth  in  his  powerful  hands  and  shaking 
him.  "  Crucify  me  like  a  slave,  if  I  believe  not  thou 
hast  sold  him  unto  Annas  !  " 

"  Thou  liest,  robber,"  said  Phaleon  sullenly,  helpless 
in  that  grasp.  "  If  he  be  sold,  it  is  thou  hast  sold  him." 

"  Peace !  Peace !  "  Shealtiel  implored,  straining  to 
part  them.  "  Waste  not  the  precious  moments  in  vain 
dispute!  If  Hyrcanus  be  taken,  so  are  we  all  lost! 
But  still  is  hope!  He  may  but  have  strayed!  I  will 
send  out  .  .  ." 

"  Ho !  Lanterns !  "  thundered  Barabbas  with  oaths. 
"  I  will  myself  go !  Fat  dogs  of  the  town !  —  what 
know  ye  of  hunting !  " 

Hither  and  thither  swarmed  the  servants,  bringing 
lanterns,  swords,  staves.  Meanwhile  the  gate  stood 
open.  And  amidst  the  hurried  preparations  someone 
rushed  in  through  the  covered  passage  from  the  outer 
darkness. 

The  tossing  lantern-gleams  revealed  the  figure  of  Hyr- 
canus with  torn  mud-soiled  cloak  and  dishevelled  hair. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  89 

He  stopped  and  leaned  against  a  stone  pillar,  labouring 
hard  for  breath.  His  eyes  flamed  in  his  head  like  coals. 
The  netted  veins  on  his  forehead  stood  out  black  and 
swollen. 

Barabbas  perceiving  him  in  this  disordered  guise  as 
if  pursued,  leaped  out  to  discover  what  danger  pressed. 

The  walled  narrow  street  was  deserted. 

"  How,  Master ! "  growled  the  robber,  re-entering. 
"  Fleest  thou !  —  and  none  pursueth !  " 

"  Thou  art  safe  and  alive ! "  exclaimed  Shealtiel. 
"  We  thought  thee  taken, —  perhaps  slain !  " 

Young  Phaleon  came  and  felt  of  the  prince's  body 
like  one  doubtful  of  his  own  senses. 

"  What  a  fright  thou  hast  given  me !  Bacche!  I 
was  as  one  dead  in  the  tomb ! " 

"  I  have  beheld  her  again !  "  cried  Hyrcanus  hoarsely. 
"  By  the  face  of  God,  I  saw  and  followed  her ! " 

They  looked  at  one  another,  uncomprehending,  in 
silence.  He  noticing  their  astonishment  stamped  his 
foot  and  glared  about. 

"  I  tell  you  and  ye  believe  not ! "  he  cried  further, 
more  passionately.  "  I  saw  and  followed  her.  I  have 
marked  the  house.  Yea,  I  too  would  have  entered,  but 
they  barred  the  door  against  me.  Then  would  I  have 
climbed  over  the  wall.  But  the  wall  was  high,  and  those 
that  looked  down  from  the  housetops  round  about 
mocked  me !  —  they  cast  down  stones  upon  me.  And 
at  last  I  fell." 

"  What  may  this  mean  ?  "  they  whispered,  inquiring 
of  each  other.  "  Whom  hath  he  followed  ?  He  speak- 
eth  of  some  woman.  What  woman  saw  he !  " 


90  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

Then  Barabbas  bluntly :  "  Master,  art  thou  pos- 
sessed of  a  devil?  " 

Phaleon  drew  his  father  aside: 

"  It  is  that  one  of  whom  he  oft  converseth  with  me 
in  private.  He  saw  her  by  the  Pool  of  Siloam.  She 
hath  bewitched  him !  Nos  defenset  Venus!  I  know 
not  if  she  be  true  flesh  and  blood  or  an  apparition  of 
the  air.  He  hath  strange  visions  of  her.  Almost  he 
believeth  her  to  be  his  familiar  spirit.  As  we  go  about 
the  streets,  ever  he  seeketh  her  amid  the  crowds,  ever 
he  scanneth  the  faces.  He  hath,  I  do  fear,  a  kind  of 
madness." 

"  Nay,  it  is  in  that  blood,"  muttered  Shealtiel  un- 
easily. 

As  they  all  yet  stood  in  wonder, — 

"  Phaleon,  come  hither !  "  cried  the  prince.  "  I  did 
but  return  to  seek  thine  aid  that  I  may  clamber  over 
the  wall.  I  will  find  her  to-night!  Yea, —  though  I 
pull  that  house  asunder  stone  by  stone!  May  the  fires 
of  Tophet  consume  me  if  I  do  not !  Come ! "  He 
seized  the  youth's  wrist  and  dragged  him  towards  the 
gate.  "  Thou  shalt  aid  me  to  climb  the  wall !  " 

Phaleon  protested: 

"  The  moon  is  not  up.  How  mayest  thou  find  the 
house  again  in  darkness !  " 

"  Not  find  the  house,  fool !  Can  I  find  my  thumb ! 
Why  loiterest  thou !  " 

Hyrcanus  continued  to  drag  him  with  a  grip  of  iron. 
The  heat  and  hurry  of  the  prince's  countenance  seemed 
about  to  flame  forth  into  ungovernable  rage.  It  was 
not  safe  to  refuse  him.  Neither  Shealtiel  nor  even  the 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  91 

rude  Barabbas  saw  fit  to  cross  him  in  his  distracted 
mood. 

The  young  men  were  suffered  to  go  forth  unhindered, 
although  Shealtiel  to  insure  their  safety  despatched 
after  them  some  eight  or  nine  stout  servants  armed  with 
swords  and  staves. 

Purple  night  had  descended  upon  the  housetops  of 
Jerusalem.  The  moon  was  down.  The  stars  throbbed 
in  golden  splendour.  On  the  dark  streets  might  now 
and  then  be  seen  some  belated  citizen  who  hurried  home- 
ward guarded  by  servants  with  lanterns,  watchful  of 
black  gateways  and  corners  whence  marauders  might 
spring. 

Hyrcanus  drawing  Phaleon  along  skirted  the  empty 
marketplace.  He  plunged  down  into  the  Tyropaeon 
Valley  among  the  huddled  houses  of  the  poor.  Once 
or  twice  he  paused,  but  only  to  fix  the  great  bridge 
which  looming  dimly  against  the  stars  soared  across 
from  the  hill  of  Zion  to  Moriah. 

Out  of  the  Street  of  the  Cheesemongers  he  turned  to 
the  left,  rounded  a  couple  of  corners  into  a  squalid  lane, 
and  stopped. 

"  There  is  the  house,"  said  he,  pointing  across  the 
way.  "  I  beheld  her  first  in  the  marketplace, —  one 
glimpse  among  the  crowd!  She  was  gone  like  the  flit- 
ting of  the  quick  jerboa.  But  I,  as  in  the  hills  of 
Moab  we  track  the  wild  goat,  followed,  concealing  my- 
self. Hither  she  came,  stepping  fast,  timid,  with  many 
looks  behind.  This  door  was  opened  unto  her.  Then 
came  I  and  knocked.  None  answered ;  —  only  the 
neighbours  jeered  me  from  the  housetops  calling  words 


92  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

I  understood  not.  Then  would  I  have  climbed  the  wall 
—  as  now  by  thy  help  I  shall ! " 

Phaleon  was  peering  uncertainly  about  in  the  thick 
gloom. 

"  I  begin  to  know  this  spot,"  he  muttered.  "  It  hath 
a  familiar  aspect.  Turn  hercide!  I  have  in  mind  .  .  . 
It  is  ...  Nay,  it  slips !  Would  the  moon  were  up !  — 
I'd  tell  it  in  a  glance.  .  .  .  Wait !  " 

But  Hyrcanus  had  crept  to  the  door,  laid  his  ear  to 
it,  and  listened.  A  murmur  of  low  voices,  somewhat 
like  a  song,  sounded  within.  He  sprang  back. 

"  By  God's  wrath,  she  is  there !  Lo,  too, —  an  arrow 
of  light  above  the  housetop!  Phaleon!  Quick!  Thy 
shoulder  here  against  the  wall !  " 

He  would  not  await  the  servants,  who  followed  at  a 
distance.  He  made  Phaleon  brace  himself  against  the 
wall,  mounted  on  his  shoulders,  sprang,  caught  the  edge 
of  the  parapet,  and  in  an  instant  had  scaled  it. 

The  house  was  of  rough  mud-plastered  stones.  A 
square  hole  in  the  roof  served  to  let  out  the  smoke  of 
kitchen  fires.  It  was  a  feeble  shimmer  of  light  against 
a  streak  of  smoke  rising  up  through  this  aperture,  which 
had  caught  Hyrcanus's  eye. 

When  he  had  gained  the  housetop  he  crawled  quickly 
to  the  hole  and  peeped  in. 

He  was  looking  down  upon  a  group  of  artisans,  hum- 
ble labourers,  and  one  or  two  slaves.  They  were  about 
fifteen  or  sixteen  in  all,  men,  women,  and  children,  gath- 
ered in  a  mean  room  nearly  void  of  furnishing,  around 
a  small  fire  of  sticks.  They  sat,  some  on  a  low  wooden 
settle,  others  cross-legged  on  the  hard-packed  clay  floor. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  93 

One  wore  the  red  cloak  of  a  Galilean  peasant;  the  re- 
mainder seemed  to  be  Judeans. 

It  was  to  all  appearance  an  assembly  or  council  of 
members  of  an  eranos  or  thiasos,1  —  one  of  those  labour 
unions  into  which  vast  numbers  of  the  ancient  lowly 
were  initiated  by  secret  rites. 

They  were  conversing  quietly  together.  Several  held 
out  their  brown  toil-warped  hands  and  warmed  them  at 
the  fire.  A  mother  was  rebuking  a  restless  child. 

Hyrcanus  discerned  objects  below  only  dimly.  The 
sudden  fire-shine  dazzled  his  eyes  and  the  smoke  stung 
them.  He  was  still  peering  eagerly  to  find  the  girl  he 
sought  among  that  company, —  when  Phaleon  came 
crawling  to  his  side. 

The  young  licentiate  had  been  boosted  up  to  the 
housetop  by  his  servants,  but,  unskilled  in  such  exercise, 
had  made  some  noise  about  it.  He  was  shaking  from 
suppressed  laughter. 

"  I  can  now  enlighten  thee !  "  he  whispered.  "  Even 
as  I  climbed,  memory  like  a  repentant  truant  returned. 
Luciscit  hoc  jam!  Out  of  a  boyhood  frolic  cometh  the 
knowledge.  If  thy  familiar  spirit  taketh  shelter  under 
this  roof  .  .  ."  Here  smoke  got  into  his  lungs ;  he  be- 
gan to  choke,  coughing. 

"  Peace !  braying  ass !  peace !  " 

But  already  the  alarm  was  given.  A  girl  darted  into 
the  midst  of  the  assembly  with  a  low  word  and  a  gesture 
towards  the  street.  At  the  same  time  the  man  in  the 
red  cloak  crying  out  pointed  up  at  the  smoke-hole  where 
the  dark  face  of  Hyrcanus  peered. 

As  they  all  started  to  their  feet,  casting  upward  their 


94  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

fear-stricken  eyes,  Hyrcanus  beheld  his  slender  maid  of 
Siloam. 

"  She  is  within!  "  he  cried  with  fierce  joy.  "  Guard 
the  doors  below !  Permit  none  to  escape !  " 

An  outcry  of  terror  and  fright  arose  inside  the  house. 
Men,  women,  and  children  rushed  hither  and  thither  a 
moment  in  panic.  Then  the  little  fire  of  sticks,  whether 
by  accident  or  design,  was  trampled  out.  The  room  was 
plunged  in  thick  darkness.  Hyrcanus  bawling  orders 
and  warnings  to  the  slaves  in  the  street  laboured  furi- 
ously the  while  with  hands,  heels,  and  sword-point,  to 
enlarge  the  aperture.  He  broke  away  the  mud-plaster 
and  stones.  In  a  few  moments  he  had  widened  it  enough 
to  admit  his  body,  and  leaped  down. 

His  feet  struck  a  few  sparks  from  the  ashes  of  the 
trampled  fire.  All  else  was  profound  darkness  and 
silence.  The  company  seemed  to  have  fled.  His  out- 
groping  hands  touched  only  the  solid  wall.  In  vain  he 
searched  for  an  exit. 

Baffled  thus,  the  barbarous  passion  of  his  undisciplined 
heart  awoke.  His  rage  vented  itself  in  deep  roars.  He 
smashed  to  flinders  against  the  walls  the  few  pieces  of 
furniture  his  feet  stumbled  over. 

At  last  he  kicked  up  a  fagot  that  still  retained  some 
glowing  cinders  of  fire.  He  whirled  it  about  his  head. 
It  broke  into  flame ;  and  by  this  light  he  discovered  the 
door. 

A  shoulder-thrust  burst  away  the  frail  barrier,  ex- 
posing another  mean  clay-floored  room  where  were  to  be 
seen  only  a  few  articles  of  bedding.  But  in  this  room 
was  a  second  door,  which  led  out  of  the  house.  The 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  95 

fugitives  as  they  fled  in  panic  fear  had  left  it  wide  open. 
Hyrcanus  rushed  after  with  sword  and  torch. 

He  came  out  under  the  stars  into  a  weedy  enclosure, 
high-walled  and  narrow,  and  through  a  gate  into  the 
street  behind. 

But  the  street  divided  into  a  hopeless  maze  of  dark 
by-ways.  The  fleeing  folk  had  altogether  disappeared. 
He  darted  to  and  fro  holding  the  kindled  fagot  close 
to  the  ground.  Everywhere  the  earth  was  plashed  and 
trampled  in  all  directions.  One  track,  then  another,  led 
to  naught. 

He  was  like  a  hound  on  a  cold  scent.  At  last  a 
puff  of  wind  blew  out  the  flame  and  left  him  in  stark 
black  night. 

Despondently,  with  low-hung  head,  he  trudged  back 
through  the  gate. 

The  servants  had  meantime  broken  into  the  house. 
Lights  were  flashing  through  the  rooms. 

Among  the  weeds  of  the  narrow  garden  Phaleon  was 
rolling  and  sending  up  wild  peals  of  laughter.  At  sight 
of  the  prince's  dejected  visage  his  mirth  redoubled. 

"  Heroum  casus!  "  he  cried.     "  Heroum  casus!  " 

But  Hyrcanus,  who  knew  no  Latin,  stopped  and 
looked  darkly  upon  him. 

"  Thou  laughest  with  a  great  noise.  Findest  thou 
cause  for  merriment  here?  " 

"  Nay,  slay  me  if  thou  wilt  —  I  care  not !  "  shrieked 
the  youth.  "  I  cannot  refrain  !  Ha,  ha,  ha,  ha !  Lo, 
now !  This  house  —  this  abode  of  thy  familiar  spirit  — 
ha,  ha,  ha!  .  .  ." 

"What  sayest  thou?" 


96  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

'*  It  is  the  abode  of  the  city's  most  familiar  harlot, 
the  Magdalene, —  ha,  ha!  She  hath  .  .  ." 

He  broke  off  his  words  and  scuttled  for  safety.  It 
seemed  that  Hyrcanus  would  surely  slay  him  on  the  spot. 
The  servants,  howling,  flung  themselves  between. 

But  even  in  act  to  kill,  the  prince's  face  changed. 
His  eye-balls  rolled  loose  in  their  sockets,  and,  as  if  the 
black  swollen  veins  of  his  forehead  had  burst  inwardly, 
blood  trickled  from  his  mouth.  The  up-whirled  sword 
dropped  from  his  grasp.  He  stumbled  like  one  blind, 
and  clutched  and  tore  his  hair. 

"  Strike  me  into  the  dust,  O  God !  Cover  me  with 
mountains  as  thou  hast  with  shame !  Oh,  wrath  of  God ! 
Oh,  wrath  of  God !  My  soul  is  weary  of  my  life !  Let 
destruction  descend  upon  me !  " 

He  flung  himself  down  groaning. 

A  servant  who  had  been  left  outside  in  the  street 
ran  in.  "  Masters !  —  Masters !  —  lo,  the  city-watch 
cometh !  Already  they  turn  the  corner !  " 

"  Nay,  then,  we  must  depart,"  said  Phaleon.  "  Lift 
up  my  cousin  of  Antioch,  ye  two  tall  fellows.  Assist 
him  homeward  between  you.  Haste!  Dash  out  those 
torches ! "  And  in  a  lower  voice,  "  Dis  aterl  This 
mad  cousin  of  mine  of  Antioch  hath  a  whole  legion  of 
devils ! " 


IX 

AT  early  dawn  of  the  last  day  of  Elul,  a  swarm 
of  barefooted  slaves  crept  about  the  stone 
porches  of  Shealtiel's  great  house,  cleansing, 
washing,  setting  things  in  order.  Sunset  would  bring 
the  new  moon  of  Tishri,  the  Feast  of  Trumpets,  the  be- 
ginning of  a  new  civil  year. 

As  they  busied  themselves,  some  with  besoms,  some 
with  tall  earthenware  urns  from  which  they  splashed 
or  dabbled  water,  these  servile  folk  talked  excitedly 
but  without  noise.  A  shrug  was  eloquent.  The  swift 
mobile  hands  expressed  volumes  in  sly  gestures. 

The  night  before,  a  strange  thing  had  happened. 
That  splendid  cousin  of  Antioch,  whose  true  name  was 
more  than  suspected,  had,  it  seemed,  conceived  a  pas- 
sion for  a  common  harlot  of  the  town.  He  and  the 
Lord  Phaleon  had  gone  to  seize  her  at  her  home, 
esteeming  her  to  be  a  virtuous  maiden.  They  had 
returned  covered  with  ridicule.  Then  had  begun  in 
the  banquet-chamber  a  wild  orgy  such  as  had  not  been 
surpassed  even  in  the  old  days  when  Shealtiel  enter- 
tained King  Archelaus.  All  night  the  carousal  had 
lasted. 

Over  their  tasks  the  servants  stealthily  gossiped, 
poking  out  the  lip,  with  smiles,  smirks,  and  nods. 

The  cool  morning  breeze  bore  up  from  the  Lower 

97 


98  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

City  a  distant  fanfare  of  trumpets  and  a  tumult  of 
shouting.  Brooms  and  vessels  were  dropped  at  once. 
There  was  an  eager  scurrying  to  the  housetop. 

Shealtiel  rushed  forth  from  an  upper  chamber.  He 
had  been  preparing  documents  for  the  prince's  seal. 
In  his  hand  he  yet  clutched  the  iron  stilus.  His  hag- 
gard face  wore  a  disturbed  look. 

"  Whence  cometh  that  clamour ! "  he  demanded  in  a 
loud  voice.  "  What  meaneth  that  distant  blowing  of 
horns !  " 

At  that  moment  Nadab  drove  his  ungainly  beast  of 
burden  into  the  court  below. 

The  camel-driver  looked  up  and  perceived  the  master 
of  the  house. 

"  O  lord  of  a  thousand  slaves !  "  he  bawled.  "  It  is 
I  that  will  answer  thee!  Are  not  my  tidings  worth  an 
assarion?  Behold,  there  entereth  the  city  now  by  the 
Schechem  Gate  a  most  marvellous  train  of  horses  and 
camels.  Two  by  two  they  enter  in,  with  costly  trap- 
pings. They  that  ride  thereon  are  most  splendidly 
arrayed  in  rich  embroidered  garments.  From  royal 
Aristobulus  of  Damascus  they  come, —  him  of  the  great 
Herodian  line,  whom  the  Proconsul  delighteth  to  honour. 
They  blow  trumpets  calling  all  the  world  to  witness 
the  splendour  and  glory  of  their  master.  And  every- 
where about  the  market-place  flieth  already  the  saying 
that  upon  Aristobulus  is  at  last  the  Judean  crown  be- 
stowed by  Caesar.  And  Aristobulus  sendeth  many  pre- 
cious gifts  unto  the  daughter  of  Herodias.  These  thy 
servant's  own  eyes  and  Esau's  have  beheld  the  costly 
vessels  of  alabaster,  the  shining  garments,  and  stones  of 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  99 

jasper  and  green  chalcedony!  O  my  lord,  forget  not 
thy  poor  servant  who  hath  run  panting  to  tell  thee, 
knowing  thy  goodness !  " 

Shealtiel  tossed  the  noisy  news-monger  a  copper  coin 
and  turned  away. 

"  This  Judean  crown,"  he  muttered,  "  this  crown 
that  Caesar  took  from  Archelaus'  brows  and  holdeth  out 
like  the  apple  of  Ate, —  they  all  raven  for  it.  On 
which  head  will  it  descend!  If  one  but  knew  what  the 
fatal  sisters  spin !  "  He  stood  tapping  the  iron  stilus 
against  his  teeth.  "  Why,  too,  doth  the  ambitious 
daughter  of  Herodias  linger  at  Jerusalem?  .  .  .  And 
the  spy  I  set  to  watch  the  young  prince  sayeth  that  for 
two  nights  past  .  .  ." 

He  was  aroused  from  a  profound  abstraction  by  the 
coming  of  Kedemah.  The  yellow  old  woman  was 
hurrying  along  the  porch  towards  the  gynaeceum,  with 
an  urn  of  water,  but  slackened  her  pace  to  cringe  in 
passing  the  master. 

"  Stay,"  said  Shealtiel. 

She  set  down  the  urn  and  bent  lower. 

He  scanned  her  withered  features  with  a  thoughtful 
frown.  She  was  a  hale,  tough,  clean  old  creature  still, 
although  shaken  by  palsy.  At  last  he  spoke,  in  a  not 
unkindly  tone. 

"  All  my  days  have  I  beheld  thee  flitting  like  a  cheer- 
ful spirit  at  thy  chores  about  the  house.  Thou  seemest 
to  grow  not  an  hour  more  aged.  Almost  I  believe  thee 
a  dial, —  recording  the  flight  of  time,  thyself  unchang- 
ing. How  many  years,  nay,  eons,  dost  thou  number?  " 

"  O  Master,  what  know  I  of  numbers  ?  "  twittered 


100  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

the  slave  in  her  birdlike  voice.  "  Thy  grandsire  brought 
me  hither  among  the  captives  of  the  Alexandrian  war 
in  the  days  of  Hyrcanus  the  Ethnarch.  All  eyes  that 
beheld  me  in  my  maidenhood  have  long  been  dust." 

"  Verily,  thou  art  as  ancient  as  these  walls !  And 
still  thou  labourest  in  the  gynaeceum?  " 

"  Only  to  bear  water,  O  Master.  At  the  weaving  my 
hand  shaketh." 

"  But  thou  attendest  my  daughter  Bernice  ?  " 

"  She  hath  been  under  my  sole  charge,  Master,"  cried 
the  old  woman  with  a  falsetto  laugh  of  pride,  "  since 
ever  her  mother  dying  entrusted  her  unto  me !  " 

"  Nay,  I  remember."  Shealtiel  was  silent  a  mo- 
ment, while  from  the  narrow  street  before  the  house 
arose  the  wailing  cry  of  a  milkseller  driving  his  goats. 
"  I  remember.  It  was  of  Bernice  I  was  thinking. 
Thou  hast  kept  her  hid  behind  curtains.  Oft  have  I 
sent  inquiring.  But  still  thou  keepest  her  hid  from 
my  guests." 

"  Master !  "  stammered  Kedemah.  "  Thou  knowest 
—  how  that  she  received  an  unsightly  hurt." 

"  Is  it  not  yet  healed?  " 

"  Thrice  daily  I  anoint  it  yet  with  bdellium." 

"  As  I  live,  it  seemed  no  such  bruise  when  I  saw  it ! 
Kedemah,  beware ! "  He  shook  a  warning  finger  at 
her.  "  Sufferest  thou  Bernice  to  magnify  that  paltry 
wound?  Doth  she  seek  with  subtlety  to  thwart  my 
will?  By  heaven,  mine  own  eyes  shall  judge!  Send 
her  unto  me  straightway !  Go !  " 

The  old  slave  went  trembling. 

Presently  came  Bernice,  reluctant  and  a  little  pale. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  101 

She  stood  meekly  with  clasped  hands,  while  her 
father  examined  and  found  scant  traces  of  the  recent 
injury. 

Thereupon  he  reproached  her  with  many  stinging 
words. 

"  What !  thou  disobedient  daughter !  As  ever  from 
thine  earliest  childhood,  thou  employest  tricks  and 
stratagems  to  gain  thine  ends  against  thy  father!  De- 
ceitful one ! " 

"  Nay,  father,  it  was  sore ! "  she  protested. 

"  What  meaneth  this  foolish  backwardness !  Why 
hast  thou  kept  thy  face  hid  from  my  guest !  Why  hast 
thou  failed  to  employ  thy  beauty  upon  him!  Thou 
art  not  ignorant  of  thy  power !  —  yea,  never  maid  yet 
said  unto  her  mirror,  *  Thou  flatterer ! '  Answer, 
Bernice !  " 

"  It  is  not  beseeming  in  my  father's  daughter  to  cast 
herself  upon  a  man, —  and  moreover  when  she  hath  a 
swollen  temple !  " 

*'  Beseeming !  —  beseeming !  Have  I  lived  to  have 
mine  ears  thus  assailed !  Who  art  thou,  to  question  thy 
father's  wisdom!  Thy  duty  is  to  save  thy  father's 
house,  to  shed  upon  it  honour,  glory,  and  renewed 
riches!  Is  that  unbeseeming,  fool?  Nor  needest  thou 
to  cast  thyself  upon  his  neck !  Employ  thine  eyes  upon 
him !  —  Nay,  look  up !  Such  eyes  hast  thou  as  not 
another  maid  in  Jerusalem!  By  all  the  gods,  girl, 
knowest  thou  not  how  women  use  such  wealth !  " 

While  he  thus  heatedly  admonished  her,  Phaleon 
came  out  on  the  shaded  porch  and  leaned  against  a 
pillar  near. 


102  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"  She  hath  two  ways,  father,"  remarked  the  cynical 
youth,  "  whereby  to  subject  that  wild  head  unto  her 
yoke  —  maritali  porrigere  ora  caplstro" 

"  Two  ways !  "  exclaimed  Shealtiel. 

"  First,  a  love  potion, —  hippomanes.  All  Rome,  the 
latest  travellers  say,  buyeth  love  potions  in  a  kind  of 
rage,  since  the  tale  hath  spread  that  thus  Sejanus  cor- 
rupted Drusus'  wife." 

"  Peace  with  thy  folly ! "  said  Shealtiel  impatiently. 
"  Hast  thou  naught  better  to  offer,  depart !  " 

"  Nay,  my  second  is  a  most  sure  method !  Attire 
thou  Bernice  as  a  courtesan  and  send  her  unto  him." 

Shealtiel  frowned. 

"  Dost  thou  j  est  at  me,  boy !  " 

"By  Pluto,  I  jest  not!  Give  ear  to  the  night's  ad- 
venture. Rememberest  thou  the  Magdalene?  Oft 
hath  all  the  town  beheld  her  in  the  market-place.  Tall 
was  she,  of  a  proper  shape,  and  once,  they  say,  beauti- 
ful as  Hebe.  But  since  ever  I  took  note,  her  beauty 
hath  been  as  a  garden  that  hath  no  water.  Yet  did  she 
paint  her  ruinous  face  and  go  ever  more  boldly  and  with 
uncovered  wantonness  up  and  down.  The  young  men 
mocked  at  her  antics  and  sought  out  younger 
women." 

"  She  hath  outlived  her  trade,  like  many  another," 
said  Shealtiel.  "  I  have  not  seen  her  go  about  the 
streets  this  twelvemonth." 

"  She  hath  deserted  her  accustomed  haunts,  but  her 
house  .  .  .  Nay,  look !  " 

Phaleon,  with  a  stare,  pointed  suddenly  over  his 
father's  shoulder.  Shealtiel  whipping  about  dis- 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  103 

covered  Bernice  in  an  attitude  of  hot  resentment  against 
her  brother. 

"  What  ails  the  silly  maid ! "  cried  he  angrily. 
"  Bernice !  " 

She  burst  into  a  storm  of  tears. 

"  Oh,  father,  I  beg  of  thee,  let  me  depart !  Why 
dost  thou  mock  before  me  that  unfortunate  one !  " 

"  Froward  looks !  Ill-tempered  tears !  And  before 
thy  father!  Thou  shalt  not  depart!  Stand  thou 
silent  till  I  bid  thee!  Cease  those  rebellious  sobs! 
Phaleon,  say  on." 

The  youth  narrated  humorously  the  attempt  of 
Hyrcanus  to  break  into  the  Magdalene's  house,  and  its 
consequences. 

"  Thou  shouldst  have  beheld  him,"  concluded  Phaleon, 
"  when  I,  like  unto  an  old  pitcher  into  which  one 
poureth  boiling  water,  burst  with  laughter,  spilling  my 
secret !  He  strode  at  me,  sword  in  air, —  hercule!  — 
a  face  of  thunder,  visu  tonantef  My  knees  knocked 
together.  Wintry  fear  pierced  my  reins.  By  the  high 
gods,  he  would  have  sacrificed  me  an  oblation  to  his 
own  devil  of  folly!  My  blood  would  have  stained  the 
courtesan's  threshold!  Most  luckily,  excess  of  passion 
struck  him  weak.  And  since  that  hour,  although  he 
drinketh  like  a  fish,  he  hath  remained  dull,  sullen, 
heavy-lidded  with  woe." 

Shealtiel  turned  to  his  daughter. 

"  Lo,  what  a  lover  might  this  one  be  for  thee !  His 
passions  know  not  a  bound  they  may  not  pass.  He  will 
pile  cities  at  thy  feet !  He  will  plunder  temples  and  slay 
and  trample  half  the  earth !  Such  a  love  mightest  thou 


104  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

have,  Bernice!  Play  but  thy  part  like  a  wise  maid! 
God !  Is  there  no  way  to  quicken  her  ambition !  Is 
she  all  vacant  of  mind, —  an  empty  urn,  glorious  of  ex- 
terior but  containing  not  treasure  nor  wine  nor  spices! 
God  of  my  faith!  That  I  should  be  cursed  with  such 
lumpish  offspring!  Have  I  not  prayed  unto  thee, 
Bernice, —  I,  thy  father!  —  to  save  thy  father's 
house!  " 

As  he  sat  in  the  porch  mouthing  bitter  words,  the 
girl  knelt  and  piteously  hid  her  face  on  his  knees. 

"  A  hard  father  art  thou  unto  me !  Though  I  obey 
thee,  how  might  I  win  his  love  while  he  remaineth  thus 
downcast !  " 

"  So  very  simple  art  thou  ?  Knowest  thou  not  that 
a  wound  yet  unhealed  is  tenderest?  Bring  thyself  be- 
fore his  sight.  Practise  thy  woman's  wiles !  —  for 
thine  own  profit  and  the  grey  hairs  of  thy  father !  " 

*'  And  for  thy  brother's  sake  too !  "  cried  Phaleon  in 
a  pleading  voice.  "  Turn  hercvle!  To  be  brother  to 
the  king's  favourite !  —  that  hath  a  goodly  noise  in  the 
ear!  Captain  of  the  king's  guard  will  I  be.  It  is  a 
sure  sack  without  holes.  All  supplicants  who  would 
reach  the  king  must  first  propitiate  me  by  gifts.  Ad 
dios  precor!  " 

"Lift  up  thy  head,  girl,"  said  Shealtiel.  "Rise. 
Go  cleanse  thy  face  of  these  unseemly  tears.  Adorn 
thee, —  but  beware, —  no  pigments  or  pencilling  of 
thine  eyes  now!  .  .  .  At  the  cool  of  day,  as  we  are 
gathered  together,  I  shall  summon  thee  to  bear  a  cup 
unto  the  King." 

The  leading  conspirators  had  arranged  to  assemble 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  105 

for  conference  under  cover  of  the  public  rejoicings  at 
the  Feast  of  Trumpets. 

About  the  cool  of  day  they  began  to  come  to  Sheal- 
tiel's  house  by  ones  and  twos, —  solemn  men,  circum- 
spect, keenly  aware  of  the  risk.  They  gathered  in  an 
upper  chamber,  dismissed  the  servants,  and  shut  the 
doors. 

Many  plans  and  details  were  to  be  gone  over.  A 
long  time  elapsed.  It  began  to  grow  dark  in  the  room. 
There  was  a  calling  for  candles. 

"  I  may  not  summon  my  servants,"  said  Shealtiel. 
"  An  indiscreet  word  dropped  in  their  ear  might  bring 
the  Romans  thundering  upon  us.  I  will  summon  my 
daughter  instead  to  minister  unto  you." 

He  clapped  his  hands. 

Bernice  entered,  and  being  instructed  brought  in  first 
lighted  lamps  and  then  an  urn  of  wine  and  goblets. 

Shealtiel  himself  poured  the  bright  juice  into  a  cup. 

"  O  King,"  said  he,  "  I  send  thee  this  by  the  fairest 
treasure  of  my  poor  house." 

It  was  at  a  moment  when  certain  Zealots  and  Barabbas 
were  holding  Hyrcanus  in  close  conversation  at  the 
other  end  of  the  room. 

The  girl  glided  forward  with  downbent  head,  knelt, 
and  presented  the  cup.  Her  hands  trembled.  Some 
of  the  wine  was  spilled  on  the  floor. 

Hyrcanus,  pondering  other  matters,  his  eyes  heavy 
and  bloodshot,  turned  carelessly,  accepted  the  cup  with- 
out a  glance  at  the  bearer,  lifted  it,  and  thanked 
Shealtiel. 

"  The  wench  serveth  but  clumsily,  being  affrighted  in 


106  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

thy  presence,  O  King!"  cried  Shealtiel.  "Yet  in  my 
poor  judgment  is  she  passing  fair.  What  sayest 
thou?" 

"  Most  fair,"  replied  the  prince.  'And  still  he  failed 
to  look  downward  at  the  girl,  who  bent,  shadowing  her 
face. 

"  Nay,  but  mark  the  breadth  and  fulness  of  her 
brow !  She  who  bore  her  to  me  was  like  unto  the  morn- 
ing star  for  beauty !  " 

Here  Barabbas,  quick  to  suspect  the  purport  of  his 
rival's  manoeuvre,  burst  into  a  loud,  taunting  laugh. 

"  Master,  he  draggeth  up  his  wench  to  thee  in  a 
halter  as  a  shepherd  his  ewe  lamb  at  Pentecost, —  ex- 
pecting huge  reward  hereafter !  " 

Between  those  two  all-greedy  men  burned  an  intense 
flame  of  jealousy  which  only  their  present  mutual  ad- 
vantage repressed,  and  that  with  difficulty.  Hitherto 
Shealtiel  had  been  the  more  diplomatic  and  self-con- 
trolled. But  now,  openly  insulted  before  so  many,  his 
haughty  spirit  could  endure  no  more.  He  retorted 
coldly, — 

"  What  then  hast  thou  to  offer?  One  of  thine  own 
litter  of  swine  in  Gilead?  " 

Barabbas  leaped  up,  his  eyes  flashing  terribly. 

"  I  offer  my  sword,"  he  thundered,  "  to  cleanse  my 
Master's  council  of  vipers !  " 

He  drew  his  blade  and  loudly  smote  the  flat  of  it 
upon  his  palm. 

All  the  conspirators  were  on  their  feet  in  an  instant, 
tongues  clamouring  fiercely,  fists  shaken,  weapons  out. 
They  divided  into  two  groups,  the  larger  about  Sheal- 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  107 

tiel,  the  smaller  behind  Barabbas.  They  stood  glar- 
ing and  hurling  defiances  at  one  another  across  the 
room. 

Hyrcanus  rushed  between  with  swift  words  and 
gestures.  He  called  upon  them  severally  by  name,  en- 
treating, persuading,  reasoning,  commanding.  He 
depicted  in  brilliant  hues  the  rewards  and  riches  for 
all  if  they  but  laid  aside  their  enmities  until  Jeru- 
salem had  fallen. 

This  appeal  began  to  have  an  effect  upon  them,  al- 
though they  continued  to  mutter  threats  and  exchange 
black  looks.  At  last  the  prince  cried, — 

"  For  the  rock  on  which  we  have  so  near  split, — 
why,  I  will  remove  it  from  our  path!  Shealtiel,  give 
thou  me  this  daughter  of  thine  to  wife, —  or  any  other 
that  thou  wilt." 

"  Yea,  that  do  I !  "  said  Shealtiel  quickly. 

"  And  I,  Master !  "  roared  Barabbas,  furious.  "  Am 
I  naught!  Who  came  to  thee  in  the  desert  with  men 
and  spears  and  horses !  Who  fought  for  thee  and  shed 
his  blood  at  thy  right  hand, —  ere  ever  one  of  these 
Judean  fatlings  so  much  as  saluted  thee ! " 

"  O  Barabbas,  first  of  my  friends,  peace !  Hadst 
thou  likewise  an  unmarried  daughter,  her  also  would  I 
take  to  wife.  But  now  heed  my  word.  On  the  day 
when  I  come  into  my  kingdom,  thou,  before  all  others, 
shalt  have  thy  first  wish  granted  —  be  that  wish  what- 
soever it  may !  All  these  I  call  to  bear  witness !  " 

The  robber  reflected.  Then  he  laughed,  showing  his 
grim  fangs. 

"  Master,  by  God's  throne,  I  am  content !  "     For  in 


108  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

his  heart  he  designed  to  ask  for  the  head  of  Shealtiel. 

"  Where  then  is  this  maid  who  hath  come  so  near  to 
wreck  our  hopes !  "  inquired  the  prince.  "  As  I  live, 
I  have  not  yet  beheld  her  face  1 " 

But  Bernice  had  fled  amid  the  confusion. 

"It  is  a  shy  little  maid,"  said  Shealtiel.  "Yet  is 
she  full  of  brightness  and  laughter,  and  singeth  gaily 
on  the  lute.  I  will  cause  her  to  be  summoned." 

"  Nay,  let  us  first  conclude,  that  we  may  separate  for 
the  night." 

Later,  when  the  conference  had  ended,  Hyrcanus 
withdrew  to  go  alone  to  his  chamber. 

He  traversed  the  stone-pillared  grey  porches.  It 
was  growing  dusk  in  the  world.  The  great  sacred 
trumpet  or  shofa  had  already  blown  from  the  Temple 
Mount.  Its  sonorous  blast,  echoed  and  re-echoed  by  in- 
numerable trumpets  and  horns  from  the  housetops  of 
the  city,  filled  the  air  with  vibrant  sounds.  Down  in 
the  court  the  servants  were  running  about,  boisterously 
saluting  one  another: 

"  May  you  be  writ  down  for  a  Happy  New  Year ! " 

It  was  the  beginning  of  the  new  year,  which,  according 
to  the  prophets,  was  to  bring  a  new  king. 

Who  would  be  that  king? 

As  Hyrcanus  walked  on,  musing  of  many  matters, 
he  became  aware  of  a  female  figure  that  flitted  ghost- 
like before  him  down  the  paved  corridor.  It  had 
emerged  hastily  from  the  curtained  door  of  the 
gynaecewm. 

He  gave  it  no  conscious  attention  at  first,  supposing 
it  to  be  some  servant.  But  when  it  paused  at  the  door- 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  109 

way  of  his  room,  he  looked  up.  A  whiter  light  fell 
about  it  there  as  it  stood  casting  over  its  shoulder  a 
glance  backward  at  him.  His  blood  chilled  with  su- 
perstitious fear. 

It  was  the  maid  of  Siloam. 

He  saw  again  the  coarse  blue  gown,  the  small  oval 
face  half  shadowed  by  the  thick  dark  hair,  the  startled 
quick  poise  and  upflung  head  which  he  remembered  as 
one  recalls  a  pleasant  measure  of  a  song. 

Not  a  doubt  remained  to  him  but  that  this  was  a 
supernatural  visitation.  She  was  either  his  familiar 
spirit  or  some  malignant  demon  come  to  haunt  him. 

The  figure  meantime  had  passed  through  the  door- 
way. He  sprang  forward,  leaped  into  the  room, 
stopped,  and  stared. 

His  heart  beat  wildly  against  his  ribs. 

Around  him  were  the  bare  stone  walls  and  furniture 
of  the  Jewish  sleeping-apartment.  His  eyes  explored 
the  raised  couch,  the  few  rugs  and  mats,  the  corners  of 
the  room.  The  only  exit  was  by  the  doorway.  Yet  the 
place  was  untenanted. 

After  a  moment  he  discerned  lying  on  the  floor  in 
the  recess  of  the  wall  a  little  house-sandal  of  palm- 
leaf  and  leather,  as  if  fallen  from  a  foot  in  hasty  flight. 
He  drew  cautiously  nearer  to  look,  but  did  not  venture 
to  pick  it  up. 

"  Art  thou  devil  or  familiar  spirit  ?  "  he  inquired 
aloud. 

Silence  dwelt  within  the  darkening  room.  Outside 
sounded  indistinctly  the  tumultuous  tooting  of  horns 
from  the  city  housetops. 


110  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"  Open  thy  lips  and  answer  me ! "  he  cried  again. 

A  voice  seemed  to  descend  upon  him  out  of  the  empty 
air,  a  woman's  voice  with  a  kind  of  mocking  laughter: 

"Hyrcanus?" 

"  Here  am  I !  " 

"  Thou  who  takest  unto  thee  wives  shalt  seek  long 
for  some  of  them." 

Near  though  the  sounds  seemed,  they  were  muffled 
and  faint.  He  strained  forward  to  catch  the  words. 
A  cold  sweat  bathed  his  body.  His  knees  knocked  to- 
gether. Yet  he  cried  boldly: 

"  Who  art  thou !  " 

Another  trill  of  laughter,  faintly  mocking,  like  a 
tinkle  of  silver,  was  audible  a  moment.  Then  all  was 
still. 


MOVING  torches  and  candles  shone  out  on  Mount 
Moriah,  where  the  white  Temple  exulted  above 
Jerusalem.     Through  the  narrow  city-streets 
flowed  a  stream  of  innumerable  voices  elate  with  songs 
and  laughter.     Everywhere  sounded  the  joyous   New 
Year  cry: 

"  May  you  be  written  down  for  a  happy  New  Year !  " 

Night  was  descending.  Many  of  the  people  who 
poured  homeward  carried  perforated  lanterns  already 
lighted,  whose  flicker  danced  along  the  walls. 

The  conspirators  had  designed  to  slip  out  of  Sheal- 
tiel's  house  by  twos  and  threes  and  mingle  unnoticed  in 
the  passing  throngs. 

But  as  they  lingered  inside  the  opened  gate  and 
arched  passage,  the  high-walled  street  before  the  house 
ran  out  of  people  as  the  shutting  of  a  sluice  empties 
a  channel.  It  became  rapidly  deserted. 

A  full  minute  elapsed.  In  neighbouring  lanes  the 
noises  of  the  multitude  continued.  But  here  not  a  foot 
sounded  on  the  stones. 

Bar  abbas  first  commented  on  the  peculiar  circum- 
stances. He  lifted  his  grim  head. 

"Hark!"  he  muttered.  "The  street  hath  lost  all 
its  men  and  beasts  at  once ! " 

They  were  in  the  deep-shadowed  archway  and  had 
been  conversing  and  saying  farewell  in  low  tones. 

Ill 


THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"  The  hour  waxeth  late,"  said  one.  "  Is  not  the 
first  watch  near  an  end?  " 

But  afterwards  was  an  alarmed  silence.  Everyone 
listened  intently. 

Afar  off,  towards  the  citadel  and  Pretorium,  was 
faintly  audible  a  kind  of  hooting  as  though  the  people 
jeered  some  unpopular  spectacle.  Two  or  three  of  the 
conspirators  had  already  departed  down  the  street  and 
had  not  returned.  But  now  the  others  hung  back. 
Shealtiel  called  a  trusted  slave  and  said, — 

"  Get  thee  down  towards  the  market-place  quickly. 
See  if  the  way  be  yet  open." 

Barabbas  continually  snuffed  the  wind. 

"  I  like  it  not !  I  smell  danger  in  the  air !  While 
one  might  tell  a  hundred,  not  a  foot  hath  passed, —  not 
so  much  as  a  dog's !  —  On  the  word  of  Jesus  Barabbas, 
not  a  foot !  " 

"  The  people  choose  rather  to  go  by  way  of  the 
market-place  than  thus  roundabout,"  a  Zealot  dubi- 
ously suggested. 

"  My  thumbs  prickle !  "  said  the  robber.  "  May  I 
be  strangled  if  I  scent  not  peril ! "  Then,  softly, 
"Hark!  .  .  .  A  runner!" 

Someone  was  coming  at  last,  running  stealthily.  In 
the  stillness  was  heard  the  rapid  soft  patter  of  his  feet. 

Barabbas  and  two  others  sprang  out  from  the  gate 
into  the  middle  of  the  roadway. 

Along  the  crooked  street  came  fleeting  through  the 
dusk  a  deformed  figure  which  stooped  as  it  ran  and 
cast  quick  glances  behind.  It  was  Nadab  the  camel- 
driver. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  113 

"  Hold !  "  growled  Barabbas,  springing  to  arrest  him. 

But  Nadab  wriggled  and  dodged  like  a  rat,  eluded 
the  robber,  gained  the  gateway,  and  darted  in. 

"  Hyrcanus !  "  he  cried  in  a  gasping  voice.  "  Stay 
me  not !  I  bear  a  message  for  Hyrcanus !  " 

Hyrcanus  had  only  at  that  moment  descended  into 
the  court,  apprised  of  the  predicament  of  his  followers. 
When  he,  emerging  from  the  deeper  shadow  of  the 
porch,  recognised  the  misshapen  camel-driver, — 

"  Is  it  thou,  Nadab ! "  he  exclaimed. 

"  Master !  Master !  "  panted  Nadab,  much  agitated. 
"  Thine  ear !  Closer !  "  And  pulling  at  the  prince's 
tunic  he  whispered,  "  Thou  art  betrayed !  The 
Romans  are  warned  of  thy  presence  in  this  house !  .  .  . 
All  ways  are  stopped  as  a  bottle !  They  have  thee  as  if 
sewed  in  a  sack!  One  only  may  escape.  One  only! 
All  others  must  perish  by  the  sword!  I  have  come  to 
save  thee,  Master ! " 

"  Hath  Salome  sent  thee?  " 

"  Unbidden  I  come,  Lord !  Esau  was  here  —  here 
in  the  stables.  What  could  I  but  come !  —  slipping 
through  the  ranks  of  soldiery  even  as  they  closed  to- 
gether. I  will  save  thee,  Master, —  both  thee  and 
Esau ! " 

"How  mightest  thou  do  that?" 

"  Ah,  Master,  thou  believest  not !     But  wait !  " 

He  darted  off  towards  the  stables. 

Hyrcanus  looking  about  saw  that  already  the  dismal 
tidings  that  the  house  was  surrounded  had  somehow 
reached  the  others.  A  panic  was  commencing  in  the 
court.  Freemen  and  slaves  swarmed  to  and  fro  over 


THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

the  stones  uttering  lamentable  cries.  One  man,  drunk 
with  fear,  staggered  blindly  this  way  and  that,  clutch- 
ing both  sides  of  his  face.  The  Zealots,  headed  by 
Barabbas,  had  rushed  forth,  sword  in  hand,  with  the 
fury  of  despair,  to  attempt  to  cut  their  way  out  to 
the  market-place. 

Feeling  his  cloak  plucked,  Hyrcanus  turned. 

Nadab  was  back  again.  He  had  brought  out  his 
camel  from  the  stables.  Over  its  hump,  and  hanging 
halfway  to  the  ground,  had  been  loosely  tied  several 
empty  grain-sacks. 

"  O  Master !  —  O  Master !  "  implored  the  camel- 
driver.  "  Thine  ear  close !  Thus  shalt  thoii  escape 
from  the  circuit  of  thine  enemies !  Cling  by  the  belly- 
bands  beneath  the  belly  of  Esau!  Lo,  the  sacks  thus 
will  curtain  thee!  Esau  will  bear  thee  safely  down 
the  street." 

"God's  throne!  What  is  this!"  muttered  the 
prince,  starting. 

"  See  thou !  Esau  will  run  as  in  a  mad  frenzy !  It 
is  a  trick  which  I  have  taught  unto  him.  The  soldiers 
seeing  Esau  thus  unmounted  and  with  naught  but 
empty  sacks  will  open  their  ranks  to  him  and  let  him 
pass.  Who  stoppeth  a  runaway  camel  in  his  rage  and 
madness !  And  thou,  Master, —  safe  hid  beneath  the 
belly  —  thou  shalt  escape  thine  enemies !  " 

The  trick  promised  no  less  than  life  and  liberty. 
Even  an  armed  rank  would  break  before  the  rush  of  an 
enraged  camel  in  a  narrow  place.  If  Esau  could  be 
made  to  counterfeit  the  rare  frenzy  which  seizes  those 
patient  beasts  of  burden,  the  Romans  perceiving  him 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  115 

apparently  riderless  could  indeed  be  expected  to  let 
him  pass. 

But  as  the  prince's  mind  leaped  joyously  to  this  hope, 
he  glanced  at  Nadab's  sweating  face  of  fear  that 
glistened  like  glass  in  the  dim  light.  A  strange 
thought  came  over  him. 

"  May  two  cling  thus  to  the  camel's  belly  ? "  he 
asked. 

"  Nay ! "  cried  Nadab  in  a  piteous  voice,  kissing  the 
beast's  hairy  muzzle. 

"  How  then  wilt  thou  save  thine  own  life  ?  " 

"  Thou  alone  mayest  escape,  Master, —  thou  and 
Esau!  See  thou  feed  him  not  too  sparingly  of 
chopped  barley-straw  at  eventide, —  so  much  as  mine 
arms  cover  when  spread  thus.  And  when  thou  canst, 
—  a  double  handful  of  green  beans.  Esau  hath  a 
special  relish  for  green  beans!  And,  O  Master,  when 
Esau  drinketh, —  if  thou  wouldst  but  look  to  his  gums 
after,  that  no  leeches  cling  .  .  ." 

"  Peace ! "  said  Hyrcanus,  confused  and  frowning. 
"  Why  off erest  thou  thy  life  for  mine  ?  " 

"  Nay,  thou  didst  save  my  life  once !  Barabbas 
would  have  slain  me.  At  Salcah  it  happened.  My  lord 
hath  forgot !  But  I  —  I  have  not  forgot !  " 

"  If  I  spared  thee,  it  was  for  mine  own  advantage, 
not  thine.  Thou  owedst  me  naught  on  that  account." 

"  Is  thy  servant  lower  than  a  dog?  Nadab  hath 
little,  yet  he  hath  gratitude!  And,  O  my  lord,  it  may 
be  that  I  brought  this  danger  upon  thee,  but  unwit- 
tingly did  I !  Ere  ever  I  knew  that  thou  didst  accom- 
pany Barabbas  hither,  I  informed  .  .  ." 


116  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"  Peace ! "  cried  Hyrcanus  again  in  a  troubled  voice 
so  sharp  that  it  instantly  silenced  the  pleader. 

And  afterwards  the  prince  stood  for  some  time  still, 
frowning  upon  the  ground  like  one  in  a  cloud  of  aston- 
ishment. 

Terror  ruled  in  the  paved  court  about  them.  The 
panic-stricken  slaves  rushed  through  the  porches  and 
up  and  down  the  staircases  uttering  dreary  cries.  In 
the  rooms  and  on  the  housetop  resounded  the  shrill 
weeping  of  women,  the  screams  of  children.  All  the 
house  was  boiling.  Animals  had  broken  loose  from  the 
stables.  Squealing  and  braying  they  rushed  hither 
and  thither.  The  Zealots  who  had  sallied  out  to  dash 
themselves  against  the  hedge  of  spears  were  now  flee- 
ing back.  Some  had  flung  down  their  swords,  to  beat 
their  breasts  and  tear  their  hair. 

In  the  gateway  Barabbas  raved  like  a  madman, 
brandishing  his  black  fists  and  howling  curses  at  the 
star-gemmed  sky. 

Shealtiel  on  the  other  hand  stood  quiet  like  one 
dreaming.  He  stood  under  the  porch  of  his  doomed 
house,  fumbled  his  long  sleeves,  and  stared  vacantly 
around. 

Hyrcanus  put  aside  temptation.  In  those  few 
crowded  moments  had  come  to  him  a  new  conception 
of  a  king's  part. 

He  lifted  Salome's  chain  from  his  neck  and  flung  it 
with  its  purple  amethyst  over  the  shaggy  head  of  the 
camel-driver. 

"  It  is  not  meet  for  me  to  accept  precious  gifts,  but 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  117 

to  give  them,"  he  said.  "  Thou  alone  deservest  to  use 
thy  means  of  life.  Go." 

"  Master !  Ah !  —  thou  temptest  me  beyond  my 
strength ! "  stammered  the  camel-driver,  his  knees  shak- 
ing. 

"  Go !  But  if  thou  bear  that  token  unto  the  daugh- 
ter of  Herodias,  thou  mayest  yet  save  all  within  this 
house.  We  be  numerous  here,  the  walls  high  and 
strong.  The  place  might  well  be  defended  for  an  hour. 
The  multitude  will  be  aroused  against  the  Romans. 
And  if  then  Salome's  armed  men  come  ...  I  see  thou 
comprehendest !  Go!  Make  haste!  And  if  I  live  to 
enter  into  my  kingdom,  great  shall  be  thy  reward." 

"Master,  I  go!" 

Nadab  crawled  beneath  the  belly  of  the  camel.  Con- 
cealed by  the  hanging  sacks,  he  spoke  a  sharp  word. 

The  trained  animal  curled  back  its  loose  lips,  baring 
its  yellow  teeth,  pranced  grotesquely,  reared,  and  sud- 
denly lunged  out  through  the  gate  as  Barabbas  was  in 
act  to  close  it  behind  the  last  of  the  fugitives. 
The  robber  had  to  spring  nimbly  aside  to  avoid  being 
trampled  underfoot. 

Careening  like  a  tall  ship,  its  great,  flat,  soft  feet 
pattering  at  a  clumsy  run,  the  camel  charged  on  down 
the  street  with  maddened  squeals  —  a  signal  to  everyone 
to  clear  the  path. 

Barabbas  turned  from  making  fast  the  stout  iron 
bars  and  perceived  Hyrcanus. 

"  O  Mkster ! "  howled  the  robber  foaming  at  the 
mouth.  "  Must  desert-hawks  be  caught  in  the  same 


118  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

cage  with  these  soft  Jerusalem  rats !  Let  them  perish ! 
But  we  —  we  .  .  .  Oh,  if  I  but  knew  the  threadings  of 
this  wilderness  of  walls,  thou  and  I  might  yet  escape 
the  fat  Roman  swine  that  Annas  hath  sent  to  destroy 
us!" 

"  See,  Barabbas,  how  leisurely  they  advance.  They 
explore  every  crevice  and  search  the  surrounding  house- 
tops. There  is  one  way  of  escape." 

"Escape!     How!" 

"  If  we  make  shift  to  arm  ourselves  and  hold  these 
walls,  will  not  our  Zealots  without  stir  up  the  multi- 
tude and  assail  the  Romans  like  hornets?  Hearken, 
Barabbas.  I  have  had  secret  dealings  with  Salome. 
Inquire  not  now  .  .  .  but  know  this :  I  look  for  aid. 
Oft  out  of  the  blackest  cloud  will  flash  the  brightest 
light.  Perhaps  out  of  this  night's  despair  I  shall  issue 
to  a  throne !  " 

His  firm  assured  words  struck  hope  into  the  savage 
wolf  of  Gilead. 

"  Arms ! "  roared  the  robber,  rushing  at  Shealtiel 
and  smiting  him  on  the  breast.  "  Ho !  Give  arms 
here!  Thinkest  thou  Jesus  Barabbas  to  be  such  an- 
other as  thyself  —  a  sheep  to  die  bleating  under  the 
butcher's  knife ! " 

The  staggering  blow  roused  Shealtiel  from  his  stupor. 
He  lifted  his  dreary  eyes. 

"  Arms  ?  "  he  echoed  in  a  hollow  voice.  "  Arms, 
sayest  thou?  .  .  .  Yea,  Shealtiel  shall  not  die  until  Ro- 
man souls  have  shown  him  the  path  to  dusty  hell." 

He  led  the  way  to  the  housetop. 

The  investiture  of  the  place  was  complete.     Every 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  119 

avenue  of  escape  had  been  closed  almost  at  one  moment 
by  sections  of  the  heavily  armoured  troops.  Detach- 
ments were  then  sent  up  on  the  housetops  around  to 
proceed  across  the  roofs. 

Beyond  the  first  manoeuvre,  there  was  no  pretence  of 
taking  the  conspirators  unawares.  The  files  of  legion- 
aries were  drawn  closer  by  slow  degrees.  An  assur- 
ance magnificently  contemptuous  showed  in  the  deliber- 
ate advance  of  the  Romans  to  engorge  their  prey. 

The  defenders  of  the  house  were  afforded  a  little 
time.  They  rushed  desperately  to  arms.  Ancient 
spears,  bows,  javelins,  bucklers,  breastpieces, — 
trophies  of  many  an  old  Asmonean  war  or  Herodian 
raid,  were  brought  up  to  the  housetop  by  a  dozen  pant- 
ing slaves  and  deposited  in  jingling  heaps.  Hyrcanus 
girded  his  loins  for  battle  and  moved  hither  and  thither 
posting  his  men  along  the  parapet. 

From  the  market-place  came  the  main  body  of  the 
legionaries,  a  moving  grove  of  dense  upright  spears 
and  tufted  headpieces  that  glinted  in  the  red  flare  of 
torches.  The  street  resounded  to  their  clanking  tread 
and  the  brassy  clash  of  swaying  shields. 

A  tuba  blew,  the  echo  pealing  strangely  loud  between 
the  high  narrow  walls. 

With  that  the  trampling  of  feet  abruptly  ceased.  A 
muttered  command  ran  along  the  ranks.  The  iron- 
shod  spears  struck  the  ground  as  one.  A  pause  fol- 
lowed, as  dreadful  as  the  impending  storm. 

At  the  grating  of  the  gate  appeared  a  Roman  helmet. 
In  response  a  shadowy  helmet,  gigantic,  portentous, 
loomed  on  the  farther  wall  of  the  now  deserted  court. 


120  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

In  the  sudden  quiet  a  deep-chested  barbarous  voice 
shouted  a  few  words  of  broken  Aramaic  and  Greek  — 
a  demand  for  admission. 

It  was  answered  by  a  wild  yell  of  despair  and  de- 
fiance from  the  housetop.  A  dart  was  cast  down  which 
stuck  quivering  in  the  earth. 

Great  armloads  of  wood  had  been  brought  from  the 
Timber  Market.  Fires  were  presently  kindled  along 
the  street,  the  better  to  illumine  the  scene.  Sextus 
Pompilius  Rufus,  Centurion  of  Jerusalem,  military  com- 
mander in  Pilate's  absence,  became  distinctly  visible 
under  the  arch  of  a  gate  a  little  way  down  the  street. 
A  stalwart  martial  figure  in  a  plumed  steel  cap,  he 
stood  issuing  orders.  His  hand  pointed  hither  and 
yon.  Messengers  ran  briskly  to  and  fro. 

Soldiers  began  to  appear  on  the  nearest  housetops 
in  considerable  numbers,  each  with  a  leash  of  darts. 
But  Shealtiel's  tiled  parapet  lifted  a  full  story  above 
the  others,  so  that  its  defenders  were  as  behind  a  strong 
breastwork. 

Barabbas  at  sight  of  the  Centurion,  an  old  foe  of 
the  hill-warfare  beyond  Jordan,  seized  a  strong  Cretan 
bow  of  goafs-horn.  He  fitted  quickly  a  barbed  arrow 
to,  the  cord  and  leaned  out. 

"For  thee,  Sextus!"  he  howled. 

The  taut  string  snarled  like  a  mighty  wasp.  The 
venomous  shaft  sped,  broke  against  the  Roman's 
casque,  wounded  him  in  the  cheek,  and  brought  him  to 
his  knees. 

An  outburst  of  taunting  cries  from  the  Jews  greeted 
the  shot.  But  Sextus  sprang  up,  wiping  the  blood 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS 

from  his  cheek.  He  disdained  to  reply  to  the  jeers  of 
Barabbas.  Once  more  at  his  beck  the  tuba  sounded. 
The  attack  began. 

Crouching  behind  their  rectangular  shields  the  dart- 
throwers  advanced  over  the  housetops  as  near  as  pos- 
sible, and  let  fly  their  darts.  Blood  soon  began  to 
spatter  the  tiles  of  Shealtiel's  parapet.  Here  and  there 
loud  shrieks  and  groans  resounded  as  the  plunging 
javelins  pierced  human  flesh. 

The  Romans  in  the  street  meantime  assailed  the 
gate.  Some  wielded  a  heavy  piece  of  timber,  running 
back  and  forth  in  spite  of  the  narrowness  of  the  space, 
and  battering  formidably.  Others  locked  shields  above 
them  in  form  of  a  testudo,  to  roof  off  the  rain  of  de- 
scending missiles.  The  blows  made  the  solid  stone  wall 
tremble.  The  jarring  clangour  added  a  heavier 
diapason  to  the  yells  of  the  combatants. 

From  the  housetop  poured  down  not  only  arrows  and 
darts  but  stones  pried  from  the  pave  of  the  court, 
balustrades  of  the  porches,  walls  of  inner  rooms,  am- 
phoras,  urns,  the  shrubbery  of  the  garden,  and  even 
the  tiles  of  the  parapet.  This  avalanche  thundering 
on  the  heads  beneath  repeatedly  broke  the  testudo  and 
struck  down  several. 

Hyrcanus,  moreover,  crafty  in  war,  forebade  to  cast 
back  the  darts  thrown  from  neighbouring  roofs.  Thus 
the  Roman  throwers  having  expended  their  store  were 
slow  to  replenish  it. 

There  were  no  scaling-ladders.  Sextus  not  antici- 
pating so  stubborn  a  defence  had  neglected  to  bring 
them  from  the  citadel.  This  too  prolonged  the  contest. 


122  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

It  began  to  be  seen  that  a  storm  was  gathering  at 
the  backs  of  the  Romans. 

Along  the  outer  rim  of  the  fire-glare  thousands  of 
shadowy,  watching  forms  were  visible  on  the  housetops. 
The  Jew  vented  his  racial  grudge  against  the  invader 
in  yells,  hoots,  groans,  and  hisses.  Unseen  hands  be- 
gan to  drop  tiles  and  stones  more  and  more  frequently 
among  the  soldiers  who  guarded  the  outlets  of  the 
street.  An  excited  multitude  gathered  in  the  market- 
place. Spurred  on  by  the  harangues  of  Zealots,  they 
passed  from  derisive  cries  and  stone-flinging  to  bold 
hostility.  Of  a  sudden  came  a  scattered  rush  against 
the  Roman  files  there,  which  the  prompt  spears  easily 
repelled. 

But  the  menace  of  the  multitude  grew  with  the  min- 
utes. None  realised  this  more  keenly  than  Sextus  the 
Centurion.  He  was  in  a  perilous  predicament.  The 
Roman  garrison  at  Jerusalem  was  unusually  scant  of 
numbers  just  at  that  time,  owing  to  the  Procurator's 
absence.  Sextus  had  brought  to  this  work  every  avail- 
able legionary.  There  was  no  reinforcement  for  him 
either  from  Antonia  or  elsewhere. 

He  vigorously  urged  on  the  attack.  Those  struck 
down  at  the  battering-ram  were  at  once  replaced  by 
others.  The  legionaries  kept  steadily  to  their  task. 
It  was  evident  a  breach  must  soon  be  effected.  Un- 
der its  strong  pounding  the  gate  began  to  totter.  The 
thick  iron  bars  became  twisted  and  bent.  The  hinges 
rattled  loosely.  The  waiting  ranks  pressed  closer  for 
the  final  storm. 

Again,  and  again,  the  timber,  like  a  huge  centipede 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  123 

propelled  by  a  score  of  mail-clad  legs,  dashed  forward, 
smote,  and  recoiled,  the  men  gasping  and  blowing  with 
the  effort. 

"  O  my  stout  Romans !  Are  ye  become  babes ! " 
Sextus  cried. 

He  sought  to  shame  them,  to  incite  them  by  mention 
of  the  rich  spoils  inside,  the  gold  and  silver,  the  beauti- 
ful girls,  the  dainty  viands.  Finally  he  lent  his  own 
shoulder  to  the  ram. 

A  tremendous  blow  sent  the  gate  crashing  in. 

But  at  the  same  moment  were  poured  from  above 
great  kettlefuls  of  boiling  oil  which  Hyrcanus  had  or- 
dered to  be  made  ready.  The  deluge  splashed  upon  the 
locked  shields  of  the  testudo  and  the  heads  under  it, 
penetrating  every  joint  and  crevice. 

Frightful  outcries  followed.  The  battering-ram  fell 
and  lay  deserted  in  the  broken  gate.  Men  ran  back 
shrieking,  rolled  and  writhed  on  the  street. 

The  multitude  in  the  market-place  made  a  second 
rush,  more  furious  and  concerted,  against  the  Roman 
rear.  Sextus  because  of  the  smallness  of  his  force  had 
omitted  to  station  troops  on  the  housetops  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  street.  Disaster  resulted;  for  as  the 
populace  dashed  against  the  Roman  detachment  there, 
the  inhabitants  of  the  houses,  inflamed  also  by  the 
spectacle,  broke  off  tiles  and  hurled  pots  and  furniture 
from  the  windows. 

Beneath  this  combined  assault  the  thin  rank  that 
guarded  the  mouth  of  the  street  gave  way,  broke,  and 
crumbled.  Three  or  four  isolated  legionaries  were  left 
like  piers  amid  a  tempestuous  flood.  They  sprang 


124  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

back  to  back  and  tried  to  buffet  off  the  whirl  of  sword- 
thrusts  and  spear-stabs.  But  the  flood  surged  on. 
Sextus  had  scarcely  time  to  throw  his  remaining  force 
in  a  half  circuit  double-ranked  about  the  gate. 

So  fierce  and  sudden  was  the  rush,  so  great  the  multi- 
tude, so  lavish  of  life,  that  the  iron  discipline  of  the 
cohort  wavered  before  it.  Sextus  ran  hither  and 
thither  to  keep  his  lines  from  breaking. 

And  now  from  the  darkness  beyond  this  fire-illumined 
tumult,  rumbled  barbarous  horns  like  a  hoarse  bellow- 
ing of  bulls. 

Hyrcanus  leaped  upon  the  parapet,  peered  through 
the  smoke,  and  shouted, — 

"  Salome's  horsemen !  Let  us  descend  and  sally  out, 
that  we  may  help  them  sweep  the  Roman  dogs  to  hell !  " 

The  fight  had  gone  overwhelmingly  against  the 
Romans.  Driven  in  from  the  end  of  the  street,  crushed 
back  into  a  cramped  half-circuit  about  the  fallen  gate, 
their  lines  sagged  like  a  cloth  in  a  wind.  Here  and 
there  one  of  those  towers  of  brass  reeled  under  the  storm 
of  blows,  sank,  and  was  trampled  underfoot.  Sextus 
himself  was  wounded. 

And  now  the  fierce  spearsmen  of  Trachonitis  were 
coming  to  complete  the  ruin ! 

Against  the  harnessed  Roman  rank  the  undisciplined 
half-armed  multitude  poured  its  furious  waves.  The 
Jews  had  seen  these  world-destroyers  give  ground  be- 
fore them.  Intoxicated  by  that  unbelievable  sight, 
mad  with  lust  of  death,  they  dashed  out  their  own  lives 
like  moths.  The  pressure  behind  drove  them  on 
against  the  spears.  In  sheer  despair  they  plucked  with 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  125 

bare  hands  at  the  interlocked  shields  and  stabbed  and 
hewed. 

Nearer  and  nearer  bellowed  the  hoarse  warhorns  of 
Trachonitis.  Hyrcanus  and  his  followers  pulled  away 
the  debris  of  the  gate  and  rushed  out  to  break  the 
Roman  circuit. 

But  even  in  the  brief  interval  of  clearing  the  passage, 
a  change  had  come  upon  the  outer  scene  like  tearing 
off  a  mask.  As  Hyrcanus  emerged  from  the  gate,  his 
rallying-cry  perished  on  his  lips. 

Salome's  horsemen  were  riding  into  the  smoke  and 
blaze  of  the  street.  But  instead  of  falling  upon  the 
hard-pressed  Romans,  they  began  to  hack  and  thrust- 
through  and  ride  down  the  dense  multitude,  who, 
caught  thus  between  two  deaths,  broke  and  scattered. 
They  who  a  moment  before  had  been  the  savage  as- 
sailants were  now  flying  in  knots.  Vainly  they  sought 
for  holes  in  which  to  hide,  shrieking,  lamenting,  and 
casting  away  their  weapons. 

Relieved,  the  legionaries  raised  a  glad  shout  and 
turned  quickly  to  repel  the  sortie  of  those  within  the 
house. 

Phaleon  went  down  among  the  shields  with  a  strangled 
gulp.  At  that  Shealtiel  flung  his  mantle  over  his  face, 
rushed  upon  the  level  spearheads,  and  died.  The  air 
was  thick  with  dying  voices,  the  ground  slippery  with 
blood. 

As  a  scant  remnant  of  the  conspirators  fled  back 
into  the  narrow  archway  of  the  gate,  Barabbas,  who 
had  fought  howling  at  Hyrcanus's  right  hand,  slipped 
and  fell  on  the  hoof-polished  wet  pave. 


126  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"  Save  me,  Master !  "  he  gasped.  "  I  served  thee ! 
Thou  owest  me  this !  " 

The  cry  of  despair  pealed  like  a  clarion  in  the  darkest 
depths  of  Hyrcanus's  heart. 

He  stopped  short,  bestrode  the  stricken  robber,  drove 
his  sword  into  a  decurion's  teeth,  hewed  off  a  soldier's 
iron  casque,  beat  down  another's  spear,  and  stabbed  him 
under  the  rim  of  his  breastpiece. 

Single-handed  he  stayed  the  Roman  rush  a  moment 
in  the  gate.  They  drew  off  a  little  way  to  re-form 
their  rank,  not  knowing  how  many  defended  the  darks 
narrow  passage. 

Hyrcanus  looked  down  and  thought  that  he  bestrode 
a  corpse.  The  eyes  of  Barabbas,  wide-stretched  and 
rolled  upward,  had  already  turned  glassy;  blood  flowed 
from  a  spear-thrust  in  his  side. 

A  glance  flung  over  his  shoulder  told  the  prince  that 
he  was  alone.  The  two  or  three  of  his  following  that 
had  not  been  slain  had  fled  without  pause  through  the 
archway.  All  courage  had  gone  out  of  them.  They 
had  thought  only  of  hiding. 

Therewith  the  flame  of  rage  that  had  hitherto 
sustained  Hyrcanus  flickered  and  expired.  His  heart 
grew  cold. 

He  perceived  that  he  himself  was  sorely  wounded  in 
the  side.  When  he  drew  a  breath,  it  was  like  the  cutting 
of  a  knife.  Blood  was  trickling  down  his  forehead  and 
into  his  eyes;  but  still  he  made  out  to  see  how  the 
Romans,  beyond  the  gate,  were  gathering  for  another 
rush. 


PRINCE  HYRCANUS  127 

He  turned  and  went  back  slowly  into  the  court,  quiet 
as  despair. 

Shealtiel's  house  was  already  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  While  its  defenders  had  been  sallying  forth 
below,  the  javelin-throwers  on  the  other  housetops  had 
bridged  the  narrow  space  with  beams  and  gained  en- 
trance above.  Someone  had  fired  the  straw-filled 
stables.  The  court  was  full  of  smoke,  sparks,  and 
blaze,  amid  which  a  few  animals  still  plunged  and 
snorted. 

Looting  had  begun.  From  inner  rooms  sounded  shrill 
screams  of  butchered  slaves  and  ravished  women  and  the 
bestial  laughter  of  ravishers.  A  legionary  leaned  out 
of  a  window  and  dashed  a  wriggling  babe  on  the  stones 
so  that  its  bowels  gushed  out.  A  bull-necked  man  in 
a  helmet  dragged  a  slim  naked  girl  along  the  rough 
pavement  of  the  court  by  her  black  coil  of  hair  as  by 
a  rope.  A  half-grown  boy  hung  over  a  broken 
balustrade  head  downwards,  stabbed  between  the 
shoulder-blades.  Children  fled  wildly  through  the 
porches,  chased  by  bearded  brute-men  of  Rome.  A 
soldier  whose  passions  sought  a  different  vent  clanked 
forth  from  the  banquet-hall,  his  hollow  shield  heaped 
high  with  costly  cups.  Another  leaned  against  a  pillar 
and  elevated  above  his  sucking  lips  a  goatskin  of  wine. 

Through  these  dreary  scenes  the  wounded  Hyrcanus 
passed  somehow,  unheeded  and  unhindered. 

His  strength  was  failing  fast,  but  he  ascended  the 
staircase  and  gained  his  own  chamber.  Some  blind  im- 
pulse had  drawn  him  on,  more  than  conscious  purpose. 


128  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

He  prepared  to  fall  upon  his  sword. 

Planting  the  hilt  in  a  small  niche  in  the  wall,  he 
paused  to  wipe  the  blood  from  his  eyes.  The  room 
wavered  around  him  in  the  gloomy  light  of  the  burn- 
ing. He  held  the  sword  firm,  fixed  his  gaze  steadily 
upon  its  point,  and  leaned  upon  it. 

With  that  the  grey  stone  wall  seemed  to  open  like  a 
door,  revolving  inward  on  itself.  A  vision  appeared 
before  him.  There  in  the  dark  recess  stood  his  maid 
of  Siloam  holding  in  both  hands  a  flat  Jewish  rush- 
light. The  unsteady  flame  cast  swift  ripples  of  shine 
and  shadow  over  her  pale  face. 

She  gazed  at  him  with  wide,  frightened  eyes  and 
beckoned  with  her  hand. 

He  tried  to  go  towards  her,  but  stumbled.  His  feet 
were  heavy  as  lead.  And  with  the  effort  to  lift  them, 
he  seemed  to  sink  down  and  down  through  fathomless 
abysses  of  sweet  silence  into  darkness  and  peace. 


PART  TWO 
BETHANY 


IN  the  tumult,  smoke,  and  flame  of  Shealtiel's  fall- 
ing house,  black  night  had  enfolded  the  head  of 
Hyrcanus. 

Out  of  that  night  his  life  emerged  slowly.  His  senses 
came  back  feeble  and  tired,  like  pigeons  homing  from 
a  far  clime.  He  was  haunted  through  a  long  series 
of  vague  impressions  by  a  recurrence  of  the  sweet  voice 
he  had  heard  first  at  Siloam  and  afterwards  in  his 
empty  room  at  Shealtiel's  house.  By  fitful  glimmers 
he  thought  he  saw  the  maiden  hovering  about  him. 
Then  it  seemed  there  were  two  women,  and  once  he 
would  have  said  three,  and  several  times  the  sturdy  red- 
bearded  face  which  had  confronted  him  in  the  lurid 
glooms  of  Gehenna  appeared. 

A  fresh  wave  of  oblivion  swept  away  like  fireflies  be- 
fore the  black  north  wind  all  those  faint  confused 
sights  and  sounds. 

He  awoke  at  last  wonderfully  refreshed. 

A  strange,  bright,  dreamful  peace  enveloped  him. 
He  was  lying  on  a  pallet  beside  a  latticed  window  in 

a  small   upper  chamber,  under  a  rough-raftered  low 

129 


130  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

roof.  It  was  a  poor  place,  cleanly  swept  and  set  in 
order.  The  walls  were  mud-plaster,  stained  yellowish 
with  the  common  wall-wash  of  the  country.  Broken  sun- 
shine, reflected  through  olive-boughs  just  outside, 
threw  a  golden  shimmer  on  the  ceiling.  In  a  cracked 
old  pot  on  the  window-ledge  Syrian  narcissus,  the  rose  of 
Sharon,  bloomed,  filling  the  little  room  with  delicate 
fragrance.  An  earthen  cruse  of  water  stood  on  the 
floor  beside  the  bed. 

Lying  quiet  he  took  note  of  all  these  things.  He 
looked  out  of  the  window  and  saw  a  grey-green  vista 
of  olive-trees  in  a  wide  rustling  calm.  The  trees 
mounted  slowly  up  and  up  a  long  hill  to  where  the 
sapphire  sky,  untenanted  by  a  single  cloud,  rested  on 
the  summit  like  a  smile  of  God. 

Nearer  at  hand  sounded  a  homely  clucking  of 
chickens  and  an  occasional  moo  of  a  cow.  He  lay 
listening  and  watched  quick  birds  steer  past  the  window, 
till  his  eyes  grew  heavy  and  he  slept. 

A  brisk  foot-tread  on  the  floor  aroused  him.  He 
saw  a  woman  enter  the  room  and  kneel  beside  him. 

She  was  a  woman  of  the  common  people,  small,  lean, 
rather  old  than  young,  her  features  sharp  and  energetic, 
her  skin  a  dryish  yellow,  faded  as  if  from  exposure  to 
kitchen  fires.  Her  coarse  gown  was  the  brown  red- 
striped  garb  of  the  Judean  labouring  class ;  —  she 
gave  it  a  swift  upward  tuck  at  the  cloth  girdle  as  she 
stooped.  Lifting  the  earthen  cruse,  she  began  to 
moisten  the  wrappings  of  Hyrcanus's  head.  Her  hands, 
ugly,  tanned,  knotted  by  toil,  darted  deftly  here  and 


BETHANY  131 

there  like  lizards.  Her  brisk  black  eyes  met  his  and 
smiled  in  friendly  sort. 

"  Where  am  I?  "  he  asked.  He  wondered  at  his  own 
voice,  so  hoarse  and  faint. 

"  Thou  liest  at  Bethany,  lord." 

"Bethany?" 

"  Fifteen  furlongs  is  it  from  Jerusalem.  Lazarus 
saith  it  be  but  twelve  if  thou  goest  straight  up  over- 
hill." 

"Who  art  thou?" 

"  Martha  am  I  named,  lord." 

"  How  came  I  unto  this  house  ?  " 

"  Nay,  I  know  not.  .  .  .  Peace !  Lie  still !  —  let  be ! 
—  let  be !  "  she  cried  sharply  as  he  moved.  "  Lo,  thou 
hast  shook  water  all  over  thy  dry  clean  bed !  Now  must 
I  wipe  it  off!" 

Despite  her  protests  Hyrcanus  struggled  up  and 
propped  himself  weakly  on  his  elbow. 

"  How  came  I  hither !  Woman,  in  the  name  of  God, 
speak ! " 

"Oh,  oh!  Thine  eyes  frighten  me!  Barjona 
brought  thee  hither.  It  is  two  days  and  two  nights  ago. 
Oh,  I  pray  thee,  lord,  lie  down !  Thy  wounds  will  open ! 
And  see  what  a  great  puddle  thou  makest  of  the  bed! 
Now  must  I  change  thy  coverings !  " 

He  lay  down  groaning. 

"  Who  is  this  Barjona?  " 

"Barjona?  Knowest  thou  him  not!  Then  must 
thou  wait  till  Barjona  himself  come  to  tell  thee." 

The  little  woman  pulled  and  plucked  busily  at  his 


132  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

bandages  and  smoothed  the  bed.  He  stared  up  at  the 
ceiling  and  was  silent.  The  memory  of  his  disaster  had 
begun  to  break  upon  him  and  a  deep  wave  of  gloom  over- 
whelmed him. 

"  Knowest  thou  who  I  am?  "  he  asked  at  last,  turning 
his  eyes  upon  her. 

"  Art  not  thou  that  great  Hyrcanus  for  whom  men 
slay  and  burn?"  she  answered  simply.  "Be  at  rest. 
Thou  liest  safe  hid.  They  seek  thee  in  vain."  Here 
she  jumped  up  from  her  knees  and  cried  with  a  sharp- 
ened voice,  "  My  bread !  My  bread  in  the  oven  .  .  ." 

"  Stay !  "  He  stretched  forth  an  imperious  arm,  on 
which  jewelled  ornaments  still  glittered.  "  It  may  be 
that  mine  enemies  —  Annas  or  the  Roman  —  tempt  thee 
to  reveal  my  hiding-place  unto  them  for  a  price.  Now 
if  they  proclaim  that  whoso  declareth  my  hiding-place 
shall  receive  one  talent, —  I  will  give  thee  double  to  hold 
thy  peace.  And  if  they  offer  two  talents, —  again  will 
I  pay  thee  double, —  whatsoever  the  sum  may  be." 

Martha  tucked  her  brown  hands  into  her  coarse  gar- 
ment. Her  eyes  winked  rapidly;  her  sharp  features 
took  on  a  shrewd  look.  She  was  calculating. 

"  Hast  thou  then  so  much  gold  ?  " 

"  Gold  shall  be  thine  beyond  all  asking." 

She  stood  before  him,  troubled,  studying  her  restless 
hands. 

"  Nay,  we  be  poor  in  this  house,"  she  said.  "  Mary 
hath  not  a  gift  of  saving.  And  Lazarus  —  he  hath  not 
a  gift  at  earning.  Oft  I  lose  patience  with  them  both. 
Nay,  lord,  we  be  right  poor!  All  care  of  the  house 
falleth  on  me!  Hast  thou  in  truth  so  much  gold, — 


BETHANY  133 

then  mightest  thou  —  if  so  be  thou  wilt  —  thou  mightest 
even  restore  unto  us  the  price  of  the  pot  of  ointment 
wherewith  thy  hurts  are  anointed.  Not  any  common 
fat  of  geese,  mark  thou!  Nay,  the  choicest  balsam  of 
Jericho!  Two  full  silver  drachmas  for  a  little  pot 
scarce  bigger  than  my  hand!  Ask  the  apothecary  at 
the  foot  of  the  street  if  it  be  not  so !  And  Lazarus  hav- 
ing not  the  money  did  pawn  his  new  cloak.  And  now 
he  goeth  about  in  an  old  garment  so  full  of  holes  — 
and  Kippurim  at  hand!  Oh,  it  shameth  me  to  patch 
it !  But  thou  —  thou  wilt  not  say  I  asked  thee  ?  For 
he  would  scold."  Sniffing  suspiciously  she  turned  to- 
wards the  doorway.  "  Oh,  my  bread !  —  my  bread 
burneth !  "  she  cried  in  shrill  alarm  like  a  frightened 
sparrow,  and  abruptly  fled. 

Hyrcanus  turned  towards  the  bright  calm  hill  of 
olives  beyond  the  window,  mused  a  while  upon  his  shat- 
tered dream  of  kingship,  and  being  very  weak  slept 
again. 

Near  midday  he  was  reawakened  by  a  smell  of  food. 
Eager  with  hunger  he  turned  his  head  quickly. 

A  peasant  woman  larger  than  the  first  but  wearing 
a  similar  coarse  brown  garment,  knelt  now  beside  his 
bed.  On  her  lap  she  was  holding  patiently  a  small  dried 
gourd  filled  with  wine,  and  a  platter  that  contained 
onions  cooked  in  oil,  stewed  lentils,  bread,  and  a  cut 
melon  fresh  from  the  garden. 

She  saw  his  eyes  fixed  earnestly  upon  her. 

"  I  am  Mary,"  she  said  in  a  low,  even  voice  deeper 
than  usual  in  woman,  "  the  sister  of  Lazarus  and  Martha. 
I  brought  thee  up  thy  food.  So  well  wast  thou  sleeping 


134  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

I  feared  to  wake  thee.  But  now  the  onions  and  lentils 
grow  cold.  I  pray  thee  eat  and  drink." 

Slow,  somewhat  awkward,  she  had  a  grave,  mild,  medi- 
tative face.  Her  kind  eyes,  lustrous  and  calm,  dwelt 
upon  him  in  sober  delight. 

"  Thy  strength  returneth,  lord." 

"  Thou  shalt  be  rewarded  for  this ! "  said  Hyrcanus. 
"  Thou  and  thy  sister  and  thy  brother.  May  I  be  cruci- 
fied if  I  do  not  laden  you  with  jewels!  " 

The  woman  smiled  placidly  watching  him  eat. 

"  Speaketh  thy  heart  those  words,  lord, —  then  are 
we  already  repaid.  But  wherefore  sparest  thou  the 
wine  ?  Hath  it  become  too  much  warmed  by  the  sun  ?  " 
Her  large  palm  visited  the  sides  and  bottom  of  the  gourd. 
"  Or  is  it  too  sharp  for  thy  tongue  ?  I  went  even  unto 
the  door  of  Simeon  to  obtain  it.  My  sister  reproached 
me  saying  that  because  she  ministered  unto  thee  in  mine 
absence,  her  bread  burned." 

"  How  came  I  into  this  house  ?  "  Hyrcanus  suddenly 
demanded,  when  his  appetite  had  been  appeased  and 
his  thirst  quenched. 

Trouble  grew  upon  her  face.     She  remained  silent. 

"  I  bid  thee  speak !  "  cried  Hyrcanus  frowning. 

"  I  know  scarce  more  than  this,  lord.  In  the  night 
Simon  Barjona  bore  thee  hither.  Nay,  it  was  near  cock- 
crow. The  sky  was  already  grey  in  the  east.  Over 
Jerusalem  was  smoke  and  the  red  light  of  burning. 
And  one  that  was  with  Barjona  did  cast  up  pebbles 
against  our  lattice.  And  we  arose  in  haste,  Martha  and 
I,  and  looked  forth.  And  behold  there  were  two  stand- 
ing below  in  the  garden,  and  Barjona  bore  thee  sore 


BETHANY  135 

wounded  on  his  back.  Then  we  aroused  our  brother 
Lazarus.  He  is  a  most  heavy  sleeper, —  he  snoreth  the 
livelong  night,  hearing  not  if  the  house  fall  down.  But 
we  awakened  him,  and  he  got  up  and  unbarred  the 
door,  and  we  brought  thee  in  and  laid  thee  here.  And 
at  first  we  thought  thee  dead  for  sure." 

"  That  Simon  Barjona, —  who  is  he?  " 

The  woman  meditated  a  moment  clasping  her  rough- 
ened red  hands  in  her  lap,  and  said  softly, — 

"  A  poor  fisherman  of  Capernaum." 

"  Was  he  of  my  following?  Was  he  of  the  band  of 
Barabbas?  Or  of  the  household  of  Shealtiel?  Or  a 
Zealot?  .  .  .  Why  art  thou  silent?" 

"  These  be  questions  thou  must  ask  of  Simon  himself  .'* 

"  Where  then  is  he  ?  Why  cometh  he  not  for  his  re- 
ward ?  Let  him  be  summoned !  Here  is  this  armlet  of 
gold.  Give  it  unto  him." 

"  Simon  Barjona  goeth  a  long  journey.  He  return- 
eth  only  after  the  new  moon." 

Her  manner  was  troubled  yet,  uncertain.  Her  fingers 
fumbled  in  her  lap.  The  eyes  of  Hyrcanus  flashed 
suspicion. 

"  That  other  that  came  with  Barjona  —  yea,  look  not 
dismayed, —  thou  thyself  hast  said  it, —  who  was  that 
one?" 

"  Nay,  verily,  I  may  not  speak  ere  Simon  returneth," 
murmured  the  poor  woman  humbly,  trembling  and 
shrinking  beneath  his  darkened  countenance.  "  That 
other  also  hath  departed." 

"  I  perceive  ye  are  all  of  a  conspiracy  to  keep  me  ig- 
norant," he  angrily  exclaimed.  "  Are  thy  lips  sealed 


136  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

likewise  on  all  doings  in  the  world!  Were  no  others 
saved  out  of  ShealtiePs  house  ?  " 

She  looked  up,  eager  to  give  him  pleasure. 

"  Thy  follower,  the  great  robber  Barabbas.  It  is 
told  in  the  market-places  how  that  Sextus  the  Centurion 
discovered  him  wounded  yet  alive  amongst  the  slain  and 
holdeth  him  for  judgment.  Barabbas  lieth  in  chains 
to  await  Pilate's  coming.'* 

"  As  God  liveth !  "  muttered  Hyrcanus  uneasily. 

A  strange  thing  had  happened  to  him  while  the  woman 
was  speaking.  In  his  ear  had  seemed  to  ring  again  the 
despairing  cry  which  Barabbas  had  gasped  out  at  the 
gate :  — 

"  Save  me,  Master!  I  served  tliee!  TTwu  owest  me 
this!  " 

"  Heardest  thou  not  a  voice,  Mary  ?  " 

Mary  turned  about  in  natural  surprise. 

"  Nay.     Did  my  sister  call  me  ?  " 

He  lay  a  while  silent,  marvelling. 

"  What  more  hast  thou  ?  "  he  inquired  at  last. 

"  Many  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  were  slain  in  thy 
sedition.  Many  houses  were  pulled  down  by  the  Roman 
soldiery  and  the  gutters  flowed  blood.  Yea,  it  is  said  — 
the  report  flieth  on  every  tongue  —  that  the  proud 
daughter  of  Herodias  sent  her  heathen  spearsmen  to 
succour  the  Romans  because  of  her  new  hopes  of  power. 
Aristobulus,  who  hath  sent  unto  her  offers  of  marriage, 
hath  been  promised  the  kingdom  by  Cassar." 

At  this  Hyrcanus  raised  himself  from  his  bed  glaring 
and  grinding  his  teeth  in  such  fury  that  Mary  cowered. 

"  Wait ! "  he  groaned,  and  shook  his  clenched  hand 


BETHANY  137 

towards  the  city.  "  Wait,  O  thou  fair,  false  face ! 
Wait,  thou  oath-drinker!  For  that  thou  hast  treacher- 
ously done  unto  me,  I  shall  render  unto  thee  double! 
Out  of  these  ashes  I  shall  rise  like  unto  a  phoenix !  My 
beak  and  claws  shall  be  dipped  in  thy  blood,  O  Salome ! 
Not  great  Aristobulus  nor  the  iron  bucklers  of  Rome 
shall  save  thee  from  the  hour  of  my  vengeance ! " 

His  savage  transport  reopened  his  wounds.  A  torrent 
of  bright  crimson  gushed  over  the  bed.  Mary  caught 
him  in  her  arms  and  called  for  help. 

Again  a  dreadful  darkness  encircled  him.  He  lay 
a  long  time  within  the  jaws  of  death. 

He  recovered  consciousness  at  last,  more  enfeebled 
than  before. 

In  the  long,  calm,  bright  days  which  followed,  some 
measure  of  strength  returned.  He  was  able  after  a 
while  to  sit  up,  then  to  move  about. 

The  withering  touch  of  illness  and  misfortune  had 
shrivelled  to  so  small  a  compass  his  wide  designs  and 
towering  ambitions,  that  now  the  supreme  joy  of  life 
seemed  to  consist  in  crawling  up  to  the  window  to  look 
down  into  the  walled  garden. 

Kippurim  was  past  before  he  accomplished  this.  In 
the  fields  of  Bethany  the  autumn  ploughing  and  sowing 
were  under  way.  The  invalid  clung  to  the  window- 
ledge,  breathed  the  odour  of  fresh-turned  clods,  and  lis- 
tened to  the  chirrup  of  countless  birds  that  followed 
the  forked  plough  along  the  furrow. 

At  a  day's  end  Lazarus  came  into  the  garden  and 
began  spading  an  onion-bed. 

The   strong-built   labourer,   with  slow  and  awkward 


138  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

movements  like  his  sister  Mary,  had  tucked  his  coarse 
brown  tunic  into  his  girdle  as  he  stooped  to  his  work. 
His  curved,  thick,  hairy  legs  were  bare.  The  evening 
sun's  last  rays,  slanted  through  the  tall  prickly  hedge, 
speckled  him  with  flitting  spots  of  light  and  patches  of 
purple  shade.  He  rested  his  spade  upon  the  soil,  put 
his  sandalled  foot  upon  it,  and  pressed  it  deep  down 
with  deliberate  oxlike  strength  and  weight. 

Hyrcanus  above,  haunted  by  dead  illusions,  harassed 
by  old  clinging  thoughts  of  blood  and  treachery, 
watched  the  peaceful  labours  of  this  humble  worker  and 
envied  him.  He  lingered  long  at  the  window. 

It  grew  towards  night. 

Dusk  had  fallen  upon  the  garden,  when  there  entered 
it  from  the  road  a  thin  man  trudging  on  a  staff.  He  let 
himself  quietly  in  at  the  gate  as  one  familiar  with  the 
place. 

Lazarus,  who  worked  by  the  day  in  the  fields  and 
vineyards  of  others,  was  husbanding  the  remnant  of  light 
for  his  own  planting.  He  was  stooped  with  his  back 
towards  the  gate. 

The  stranger,  halting  as  if  weary  and  footsore,  spoke 
a  low  word. 

At  once  the  labourer  sprang  up  with  a  cry,  ran,  and 
fell  upon  the  other's  neck  like  one  beside  himself  for 
joy.  Martha  and  Mary  too  came  flying  from  the  house. 
The  stranger  embraced  them  all  affectionately  after  the 
custom  of  the  country. 

Hyrcanus  peered  down  to  discern  what  manner  of 
person  that  welcome  guest  might  be.  But  twilight  had 
spread  its  obscuring  veil  over  the  garden.  He  per- 


BETHANY  139 

ceived  dimly  that  the  man's  garments  were  poor  and 
much  whitened  by  dust  from  long  journeying,  his  face 
dark,  thin,  and  bearded,  his  form  wasted  and  bent  as 
if  with  bearing  of  burdens.  He  heard  a  murmur  of  a 
low  voice  singularly  sweet-toned. 

Wonderful  was  the  joy  which  this  one's  coming 
brought  to  that  humble  household.  But  mingled  with 
their  gladness  was  an  obvious  apprehension.  Lazarus 
ran  to  the  gate,  spread  his  broad  palm  level  above  his 
eyes,  and  looked  up  and  down  the  road.  Thereafter 
they  all  came  quickly  into  the  house. 

Hyrcanus  laid  himself  upon  his  bed  and  slept. 

After  some  hours  of  slumber  he  awoke,  disturbed  by 
a  mutter  of  cautious  voices  beneath  his  window,  and 
rising  and  looking  out,  saw  darkly  a  throng  of  people 
in  the  garden. 

As  he  listened,  his  ear  detected  behind  him  a  stealthy 
hand  at  the  latch-string  of  the  door  of  his  room.  He, 
supposing  then  it  was  some  plot  against  his  life,  un- 
sheathed his  jewel-hilted  dagger,  the  only  weapon 
remaining  to  him,  and  waited. 

But  the  door  was  not  opened.  Instead  it  seemed  to 
be  made  fast;  and  presently  a  slow  bare  foot  retreated 
softly  downstairs. 

Time  crept  on,  grew  to  an  hour,  and  still  n(  body 
ascended  to  his  room. 

He  began  to  perceive  that  the  concourse  below  must 
be  about  some  matter  not  connected  with  his  presence  in 
the  house. 

Incidents  had  occurred  during  his  long  sickness  which 
had  more  than  once  led  him  to  suspect  that  the  home 


140  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

of  Lazarus  was  a  meeting-place  for  some  eranos  or 
thiasos.  Although  Judea  had  been  specially  exempt 
from  the  provisions  of  the  Roman  law  forbidding  or- 
ganizations of  working-people  except  for  burial  serv- 
ices,2 the  hostility  of  the  optimates  to  such  dangerous 
unions  had  driven  the  membership  under  a  cloak  of 
secrecy.  The  rapid  spread  of  cheap  slave-labour  as  one 
result  of  the  Roman  world-conquest  had  brought  intol- 
erable poverty  upon  the  free  labourers,  who  under  the 
leadership  of  their  various  Jcurioi  or  chosen  industrial 
chiefs  were  struggling  obscurely  to  relieve  their  con- 
dition. 

An  unusual  event  seemed  to  have  brought  these  poor 
people  together  in  the  night.  The  room  below  seemed 
to  be  filled  with  them.  They  were  all  very  still,  atten- 
tively listening.  One  clear  voice  had  begun  to  speak. 

It  was  the  voice  of  him  who  had  greeted  Lazarus  in 
the  garden.  The  thick  mud-walls,  the  shut  door,  the 
occasional  whimpers  of  a  sleepy  child,  the  slight  move- 
ments and  clearing  of  throats, —  all  the  multitudinous 
little  sounds  which  murmur  through  the  quietest  crowd, 
could  not  entirely  drown  it.  Hyrcanus  above,  by 
strained  listening,  caught  some  of  the  words. 

The  voice  was  speaking  of  a  new  kingdom  shortly  to 
be  set  up. 

To  those  oppressed  workers  and  their  wives,  ill- 
clothed,  scantily  fed,  dubious  even  of  obtaining  to-mor- 
row's food, —  to  those  hearts  discouraged  with  the  strug- 
gle to  exist  against  adverse  conditions,  it  was  a 
proclamation  of  hope.  One  by  one  were  named  those 
to  whom  the  new  kingdom  would  bring  a  blessing :  — 


BETHANY  141 

the  exhausted,3  the  mournful  or  discouraged,  the  lowly  4 
or  suppressed,  those  that  were  hungering  and  thirsting 
for  justice,5  the  merciful,  the  sincere  and  honest  of 
heart,6  the  peaceable  workers,7  and  the  victims  of  in- 
justice.8 

The  listeners  were  told  that  unless  their  justice  ex- 
ceeded that  of  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  they  could 
never  achieve  9  the  new  kingdom.  And  thereupon  new 
principles  and  rules  for  accomplishing  justice  in  that 
new  commonwealth  were  expounded  to  them.  And 
finally  they  were  urged  to  take  no  anxious  thought  of 
the  morrow  as  to  food,  drink,  or  clothing,  but  to  seek 
primarily  the  establishing  of  this  new  kingdom  and  new 
system  of  justice,  and  then  the  things  they  lacked  would 
be  supplied  unto  them. 

Hearing  or  half-hearing  the  marvellous  discourse, 
Hyrcanus  felt  his  head  bursting  with  incredible  ideas. 

That  the  downtrodden  labourers  and  slaves  upon 
whose  misery  the  lords  of  earth  trod  as  upon  a  carpet, 
vying  with  one  another  in  wastefulness,  luxury,  and 
pride, —  that  these  lowly  ones  should  aspire  to  freedom, 
was  not  of  itself  unbelievable.  There  had  been  slave 
insurrections  and  labour  revolts  in  the  past,  bloodily 
suppressed  and  punished  by  wholesale  crucifixions,  as 
for  example  the  uprising  of  Aristonicus  at  Pergamos. 

But  herein  was  the  amazing  phenomenon :  —  that  these 
lowly  labourers  should  attempt  to  set  up  a  new  king- 
dom under  no  king  but  God, — 'that  they  should  devise 
a  new  scheme  of  justice  to  end  the  extortions  and  merci- 
less struggles  amongst  all  men  and  establish  a  universal 
brotherhood ! 


His  head  unprepared  could  not  contain  that  gigantic 
thought.  His  brain  reeled  with  the  effort.  The 
speaker's  words,  musical  with  soft  cadences  and  subtle 
shades  of  expression,  flamed  upon  his  mind  like  thunder- 
bolts, rending  and  splintering  all  former  conceptions. 

It  was  too  much  for  the  weakened  body.  A  profound 
lassitude  compelled  Hyrcanus  to  creep  back  to  his  bed. 
He  sank  upon  it  and  passed  instantly  to  something  be- 
twixt swoon  and  slumber. 


n 

AT  the  first  flush  of  dawn,  the  prince  was  awakened 
by  the  house-door  opening  beneath  his  window. 
Lazarus  went  forth  to  the  fields  whistling.  The 
cheerful  clatter  and  talk  of  Martha  could  be  heard  in 
the  kitchen,  and  the  cluck  of  hens  that  Mary  fed  at  the 
doorstep. 

That  strange,  wonderful  voice  heard  in  the  darkness 
was  gone  like  a  dream.  The  murmurous  noise  of  many 
people  was  gone  too. 

It  must  all  have  been  imaginary.  It  was  inconceiv- 
able that  such  a  thing  had  really  occurred.  By  much 
thinking  Hyrcanus  had  well-nigh  convinced  himself  it 
was  only  a  dream,  when  he  heard  Mary  coming  up. 

She  opened  the  door  and  entered  with  an  ewer  of 
water  to  minister  to  his  wants. 

"  Thou  didst  hold  me  a  prisoner  throughout  the  night, 
Mary,"  he  said. 

She  knelt  by  the  bed  and  watched  anxiously  for  signs 
of  his  displeasure.  But  when  she  saw  that  he  smiled, 
she  smiled,  as  in  water  face  answers  to  face. 

"Let  not  thy  heart  be  angry,  dear  lord.  Guests 
came  to  us  in  the  night,  so  that  our  house  was  filled 
with  them.  Now  we  had  been  warned  by  thee  to  reveal 
thy  hiding-place  to  no  man,  and  so  out  of  fear  that 

some  one  of  our  guests  might  by  chance  enter  thy  room 

143 


144  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

and  find  thee,  Lazarus  came  softly  up  and  made  fast 
thy  door." 

"  Who  were  those  guests  ?  What  came  they  for  to 
see?  " 

Mary,  of  the  most  humble  birth,  retained  unavoidably 
a  certain  awe  and  dread  of  Hyrcanus,  knowing  him  to 
be  of  the  cruel  and  bloody  line  of  Asmonean  kings.  But 
in  this  homely  awkward  woman  of  the  people  dwelt  the 
divine  instinct  of  motherhood.  Hyrcanus  had  become 
as  her  own  child  to  her  through  his  illness.  She  had 
nursed  him.  She  had  poured  out  upon  him  the  love  of 
her  great  mother-heart  till  she  had  begun  to  understand 
his  moods  as  the  skilled  fisher  the  fickle  moods  of  the 
sea. 

So  now  instead  of  replying  she  patted  his  shoulder  and 
continued  to  anoint  his  hurts  in  silence. 

"  Thou  answereth  me  not,"  he  said  after  a  pause. 
"  Thinketh  thou  these  walls  so  thick  then?  Start  not, 
Mary, —  I  feel  thy  fingers  tremble  on  my  breast.  In 
the  night  I  heard  a  voice  speaking!  It  was  .  .  .  How 
may  I  describe  that  voice !  The  words,  the  sound  thereof, 
coursed  through  the  pulses  of  my  blood  like  wine!  I 
was  as  in  the  days  of  my  youth  when  the  secret  of  God 
was  upon  my  tabernacle.  Who  was  he  ?  Who  was  that 
one,  Mary  ?  If  thou  lovest  me,  speak !  " 

Mary  desisted  from  her  task  to  gaze  at  him  with 
earnest  looks. 

"  Nay,  I  do  love  thee !  "  she  faltered.  "  Thou  know- 
est  I  love  thee!  But  how  may  I  speak  when  I  have 
promised  to  say  naught !  " 

"  Who  then  will  tell  me? 


BETHANY  145 

At  his  frown,  of  displeasure  her  soft  eyes  welled  un- 
shed tears. 

"  Dear  lord,  wait  thou  until  Barjona  returneth.  But 
now  wilt  thou  promise  me  ...  I  know  my  lord  would 
not  see  Martha  and  Lazarus  and  me  haled  before  the 
Sanhedrim  by  the  Serjeants  of  the  Temple.  .  .  ." 

"  As  God  liveth,  they  shall  not  pluck  a  hair  of  your 
heads !  Those  cursed  doctors-of-law !  —  I  will  tear  them 
out  of  their  skins  !  " 

"  Thou  needst  not  to  kill !  —  thou  needst  but  prom- 
ise!" 

"  Whatsoever  thou  wilt,  Mary !  —  to  the  cutting  off 
of  my  right  hand  for  thee !  " 

She  smiled  at  his  vehemence,  patting  his  hand. 

"  Promise  to  say  naught  of  what  thou  hast  heard  in 
the  night." 

"  By  the  living  God  I  swear  it !  Death  shall  not  pull 
it  from  my  tongue !  " 

"  Nay,  not  so  much  as  that ! "  She  looked  aghast, 
between  her  smiles.  "  Thou  mayest  speak  of  it  with 
Barjona.  And  after  the  Passover,  thou  mayest  tell  it 
to  all  the  world." 

"  Upon  thy  Barjona  thou  makest  all  the  earth  to 
hang!  May  I  be  crucified!  Ere  I  open  my  lips  thou 
referrest  me  to  Barjona!  Doth  thy  Barjona  carry  all 
the  Law  and  the  prophets  between  his  teeth !  " 

"  Nay,  be  patient !  "  said  Mary  laughing. 

The  weeks  of  idleness  were  a  sore  trial  to  the  heart 
of  Hyrcanus. 

Most  of  all  he  chafed  at  not  knowing  the  manner 
of  his  escape  from  Shealtiel's  house.  This  mystery 


146  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

fretted  him,  and  sometimes  his  fiery  temper  leaped 
forth,  at  which  the  muscled  legs  of  Lazarus  shook 
and  Martha  fled  away  and  Mary  wept.  Yet  they  stub- 
bornly guarded  their  secret  under  his  fierce  reproaches. 

He  was  learning  much,  however,  in  this  strange  school 
of  love.  His  imperious  disposition  began  to  find  new 
reservoirs  of  self-control.  And  meantime  the  bright, 
placid  current  of  days,  the  still  procession  of  nights,  in 
that  little  household  at  Bethany,  fast  healed  his  wounds. 
He  was  young,  his  constitution  was  of  iron.  He  began 
to  regain  his  vigour. 

He  was  able  at  length  to  descend  to  the  garden,  sup- 
ported on  both  sides  by  the  stout  arms  of  Lazarus  and 
Mary. 

Through  many  an  afternoon  he  sat  in  the  garden  un- 
der the  flicker  of  olive-boughs,  listened  to  the  rustle  of 
leaves  and  the  quick  bird-calls  far  and  near,  and  wel- 
comed on  his  thinned  cheek  the  breezes  that  poured  over 
the  sun-glad  slope  of  Olivet. 

Lazarus  sometimes  hoed  and  weeded  near-by  among 
the  melons  and  paused  to  drop  a  word  or  two  of  weather- 
wisdom.  Sometimes  Martha  ran  out  for  a  minute  of 
brisk  household  prattle,  tucking  her  hands  in  her  gown. 
And  often  Mary  came,  sat  down  at  his  feet,  and  was 
silent. 

More  often  however  he  was  alone.  He  would  sit  mus- 
ing on  his  fallen  fortunes,  his  lost  kingdom,  the  triumph 
of  his  enemies,  Barabbas  yonder  in  prison.  And  more 
than  once  he  seemed  to  hear  again  that  haunting  cry, — 

"  Save  me,  Master!  I  served  iheel  Thou  owest  me 
this!  " 


BETHANY  147 

Again,  as  he  pondered  those  events,  he  recalled  the 
apparition  of  the  maid  of  Siloam  holding  aloft  a  waver- 
ing rush-light,  which  had  appeared  to  him  in  the  ex- 
tremity of  his  despair.  He  now  firmly  believed  her  his 
familiar  spirit. 

Nor  was  it  singular  that  he  should  imagine  himself 
thus  attended  and  guarded.  The  superstition  of  the 
period  filled  the  air  with  demons,  malignant  and  other- 
wise. His  great  ancestors,  Judas  Maccabeus,  John 
Hyrcanus,  Aristobulus,  and  the  terrible  Alexander  Jan- 
neus  were  the  subject  of  many  popular  tales.  Tradi- 
tion had  surrounded  all  those  former  kings  with 
miraculous  influences.  It  was  but  proper  that  he  also, 
the  last  of  that  mighty  race,  should  enjoy  a  special 
providence  not  vouchsafed  to  common  persons. 

In  the  calm,  sunny  afternoons  under  the  olives, 
screened  from  the  village  road  by  the  tall  close-set  hedge 
of  prickly  pear,  he  mused  upon  his  past  adventures  as 
one  who  gazes  across  a  wide  gulf  of  time. 

The  fifteenth  day,  as  he  sat  on  a  bench  in  the  garden, 
the  gate  opened  and  a  dusty  wayfarer  entered,  a  vig- 
orous man,  rather  heavy-set,  of  middle  age,  in  worn 
Galilean  garb,  with  a  rugged  face  and  red  beard  that 
Hyrcanus  remembered. 

Illness  had  wasted  and  whitened  the  prince's  features 
and  he  wore  a  plain  coarse  cloak  like  a  labourer  of 
Bethany.  But  this  sturdy  intruder  came  straight  up 
to  him,  and  with  a  slight  frown  of  scrutiny  said, — 

*'  Blessed  be  God,  thou  hast  lost  much  flesh,  yet  art 
alive !  I  scarce  thought  to  find  breath  in  thy  body." 

Hyrcanus  rose  up  and  embraced  the  man. 


148  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"  Thou  art  Simon  Barjona!  "  he  cried. 

Whereat  the  other  laughed,  growling  a  little  in  sup- 
prise. 

"  Yea,  strong  art  thou !  Thin  but  strong !  Thou 
pullest  me  about  like  the  great  fish  of  Gadara  that  break- 
eth  nets." 

"  Strangle  me  with  those  nets  if  I  stir  one  step,  or 
thou,  Simon  Barjona,  until  thou  answer  me  this:  — 
how  broughtest  thou  me  out  of  Shealtiel's  house  and  out 
of  the  walled  city  by  night  ?  " 

"  By  Solomon's  quarries  underneath  the  city  I  bore 
thee  on  my  back.  Thy  blood  dripped  all  the  way.  One 
that  hath  a  lighted  candle  or  lamp,  such  as  we  had  on 
that  night,  may  go  thus  underneath  the  city  even  unto 
the  ancient  water-tunnel  of  Hezekiah.  There  we  stayed 
and  bound  up  thy  wounds  somewhat.  But  peace !  —  I 
must  breathe !  Thy  arms  compress  my  ribs !  " 

"  I  loose  thee  not  until  thou  tell  me  all !  " 

"  Lo,  then.  This  ancient  tunnel  hath  also  an  outlet 
below  the  city  wall  into  the  valley  of  Hinnom.  Callest 
thou  to  mind  that  time  when  in  the  darkness  of  Gehenna 
I  tripped  thee  and  thou  with  thy  knife.  .  .  .  See,  this 
is  the  very  staff  wherewith  I  tripped  thee !  Now  where 
thou  fellest  was  but  a  stone's  toss  from  the  opening, 
which  hath  been  used  by  thieves  these  many  years." 

"  How  borest  thou  me  out  of  the  burning  house  ?  And 
how  earnest  thou  to  be  therein  ?  Speak !  " 

Barjona's  sun-blackened  big  hand  tugged  at  his  red 
beard.  He  frowned  at  Hyrcanus  through  a  smile. 

"  Thou  mightest  puzzle  till  the  world's  end,  never 
mightest  thou  hit  upon  the  truth  unless  I  revealed  it 


BETHANY  149 

unto  thee."  A  moment  he  stood  silent,  seeming  to 
frown  down  some  doubt.  "  Nay,  wherefore  should  I 
not  ?  Is  not  that  house  a  ruinous  heap !  Are  not  all 
they  that  dwelt  therein  dead  or  scattered!  Behold, 
then,  Hyrcanus!  In  an  upper  chamber  of  that  house 
was  a  door  set  in  the  wall.  It  was  cunningly  contrived 
by  the  builder  in  the  days  of  Alexander  Janneus  to  turn 
upon  smooth  stones.  None  might  discover  it  by  the 
eye.  Yet  might  one  descend  thus  through  the  wall  into 
the  bowels  of  the  earth.  And  of  all  that  great  house- 
hold one  only,  an  old  slave  woman,  remembered  the 
secret  of  the  door.  Kedemah  was  her  name.  Dead  is 
she  now  like  the  others." 

"  Kedemah !  "  said  Hyrcanus,  reflecting.  "  An  an- 
cient yellow  .  .  ." 

"  Nay,  hearken !  Kedemah  was  an  initiate  of  an 
eranos,  and  thereby  she  learned  of  the  new  kingdom. 
Oft  came  she  secretly  by  that  door  to  be  with  us  at  our 
gatherings.  And  Kedemah  having  in  charge  a  little 
maid  instructed  her  also.  Thus  it  was."  The  stout 
fisherman  looked  up  and  down  with  an  awkward  touch  of 
embarrassment.  "  Thus  was  I  brought  to  thy  rescue  — 
even  as  now  I  would  be  brought  to  a  cup  of  water !  "  he 
added  gruffly.  "  Pray,  loose  thy  hold !  My  tongue  is 
parched  from  much  talking." 

But  Hyrcanus  held  him  fast. 

"  God's  splendour !  Thinkest  thou  to  end  thus  ? 
Not  a  drop  shall  cool  thy  lip  until  thou  answer  me  fully ! 
Who  brought  thee  into  the  house  to  save  me?  If  not 
Kedemah,  was  it  then  the  little  maid?  By  what  name 
is  she  called?  " 


150  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"  Thou  carest  not, —  or  thou  carest  too  much !  "  ex- 
claimed Barjona  with  defiance.  "  Far  away  is  she  now 
and  safe  amongst  friends.  Not  a  hair  of  her  head 
mightest  thou  harm.  .  .  ." 

"  Speak  her  name,  wretch,  ere  I  strangle  thee  !  "  cried 
Hyrcanus. 

"  Of  a  truth  thou  art  strong !  "  stammered  Bar j  ona. 
"  Nay,  spare  my  cloak !  —  I  have  none  other.  The  maid 
—  I  will  tell  thee  —  she  was  a  daughter  of  Shealtiel  by 
his  wedded  wife.  Bernice  was  she  named,  and  thou  didst 
first  encounter  her  by  chance  at  the  pool  of  Siloam." 

"  Bernice ! "  muttered  the  prince,  and  again,  "  Ber- 
nice !  "  And  he  let  go  of  the  man  and  stood  dumb- 
founded. 

"  She  too  was  of  the  new  kingdom  of  God.  And  being 
diligent  in  our  work,  she  oft  put  on  that  common  garment 
in  which  thou  beheldest  her,  that  she  might  go  about  the 
streets  unknown." 

"  Bernice  sayest  thou ! "  muttered  Hyrcanus  once 
more,  gasping  and  putting  his  hand  to  his  eyes. 

"  Yea.  The  night  thou  sawest  her  by  the  pool,  she 
perceiving  thy  Galilean  cloak  mistakenly  believed  thee 
to  be  our  messenger  from  Capernaum." 

"  But  when  Shealtiel's  daughter  danced  before 
me.  .  .  ." 

"  She  had  painted  and  marred  her  face  to  deceive  thine 
eye.  Oft  hath  she  laughed  telling  of  thy  dismay." 

"  Then  it  was  indeed  that  one !  Almost  I  knew  her ! 
.  .  .  But  being  drunk  with  wine  I  pushed  the  thought 
from  me  as  folly.  .  .  .  O  Bernice !  .  .  .  And  the  vision 
and  the  voice  in  the  room!  Speak,  Barjona,  speak! 


BETHANY  151 

For  every  word  thou  givest  me  of  her  I  will  pluck  thee 
down  a  star  from  heaven !  Speak !  " 

"  Oft  she  used  that  ancient  door,  which  was  in  that 
upper  room,  to  depart  secretly  from  the  house.  For 
in  the  work  of  the  new  kingdom  one  regardeth  not  father 
nor  mother." 

"  It  was  Bernice  then  who  saved  me  ?  " 

"  Nay,  she  would  have  saved  all  within  her  father's 
house.  But  she  being  amongst  us  at  the  time  returned 
too  late.  She  found  thee  only,  and  dragged  thee  into 
the  wall  and  hid  thee  even  as  the  Roman  soldiers  came. 
Then  she  summoned  me.  And  I  took  thee  on  my  shoul- 
ders as  a  shepherd  a  lost  sheep.  And  she  going  before 
with  the  lamp,  we  bore  thee  to  safety  and  life." 

Barjona  laughed  joyously. 

But  Hyrcanus,  who  had  stood  listening  like  one  en- 
tranced, clapped  his  hand  to  his  temple  suddenly  and 
uttered  a  loud  cry.  The  blood  rushed  to  his  head.  His 
face  became  black  and  swollen. 

"  I  saw  her  in  the  house  of  the  harlot !  "  He  began 
to  tear  his  hair.  "  Perish  the  day  wherein  I  saw  her ! 
Oh,  that  she  were  dust  of  the  ground!  And  I  also! 
Let  Gehenna  consume  that  day  with  fire !  Oh,  the  bit- 
terness of  my  soul !  Why  died  I  not  ere  now !  Why  is 
light  given  unto  him  that  is  in  misery !  " 

As  he  raved,  his  cries  and  groans  were  heard  in  the 
little  house.  Mary  came  running  out.  She  sank  upon 
her  knees  at  his  feet,  clasped  his  knees,  and  looked  up 
into  his  face. 

"  Weep  not,  dear  lord,  for  then  must  I  weep  too ! " 
she  implored,  the  tears  trickling  fast  down  her  cheeks. 


152  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

At  last  grown  quieter,  he  laid  his  hand  upon  that 
loving  head. 

Barjona  had  stood  meantime  shifting  his  rough  fists  up 
and  down  his  staff.  Finally  he  found  voice. 

"  Art  thou  wholly  mad !  "  he  growled.  "  What  devil 
hath  entered  thee!  Art  thou  not  ashamed  to  drink  up 
slanders  like  new  wine!  Art  thou  not  ashamed,  say  I! 
Why  sharpen  thy  tongue  on  the  little  maid  as  on  a 
whetstone ! " 

"  The  Magdalene  .  .  ." 

"  Thou  sawest  her  in  the  house  of  the  Magdalene? 
But  were  harlots  and  wine-bibbers  assembled  there? 
Was  not  Lazarus  there  that  night?  Was  not  Martha? 
Yea,  and  this  Mary  that  claspeth  thy  knees  ?  Proclaim- 
est  thou  such  an  one  like  unto  an  harlot  ?  " 

"  But  the  Magdalene ! "  shouted  Hyrcanus  wildly, 
rolling  his  eyes. 

"  Mary  Magdalene  hath  repented  her  of  her  former 
way  of  life.  Her  heart  hath  been  born  again." 

"  How  may  a  heart  be  born  again !  " 

"  When  it  is  cleansed  of  its  vile  and  greedy  lusts  and 
hatreds  and  is  filled  with  the  love  of  service  unto  others." 

"  Can  a  clean  thing  come  out  of  an  unclean !  " 

"  Cometh  not  the  lily  of  the  valley  up  out  of  the  dung 
and  mud?  So  hath  the  heart  of  the  Magdalene  arisen 
out  of  its  former  abominations  when  she  was  called  unto 
the  work  of  the  new  kingdom." 

"  Who  is  such  an  one  that  can  thus  change  the  heart !  " 

"  It  is  our  kurios  Jesus,  the  carpenter." 

Hyrcanus  looked  at  the  rough  speaker  a  while,  breath- 
ing hard.  The  fire  in  his  eyes  slowly  faded  out.  He 


BETHANY  153 

pressed  his  hands  to  his  brow  and  sank  upon  the  bench. 
For  some  moments  he  sat  silent. 

"  Go ! "  he  said  at  last  in  a  low  voice,  and  motioned 
them  away.  "  Leave  me.  These  be  strange  sayings 
...  I  would  be  alone  now.  My  thoughts  weigh  heavily 
upon  me.  It  is  too  much.  ...  I  am  weaker  than  I  had 
reckoned." 

They  left  him. 

Long  he  sat  alone  under  the  trees,  leaning  his  cheek 
on  his  wasted  hand,  submerged  in  thought. 

Day  faded  away.  The  evening  star  prevailed. 
Dew  gathered  on  the  grass  and  leaves.  And  still  he  sat 
there  among  the  deepening  shadows. 

At  last  came  Mary  quietly  and  took  him  by  the  hand 
and  led  him  to  his  chamber.  He  followed  her  without 
resistance,  laid  himself  upon  his  bed,  and  closed  his  eyes. 

Simon  Barjona  rested  that  night  at  Bethany  and  at 
morning  arose  to  continue  on  his  way.  He  ascended 
to  the  little  upper  chamber  to  bid  Hyrcanus  farewell. 

Hyrcanus  would  have  pressed  upon  him  money  and 
jewels.  But  Simon  shook  his  red  beard. 

"  Our  kurios  hath  sent  us  forth  to  this  work  carrying 
neither  purse  nor  scrip  —  like  unto  the  Essenes  and  other 
eranoi  that  share  all  things  in  common." 

"  Unto  whom  are  ye  sent?  " 

"  Unto  the  poor  and  all  that  labour  and  are  heavy- 
laden, —  the  lost  sheep  of  Israel." 

"  Have  ye  no  place  in  your  new  kingdom  for  the 
rich?" 

"  Few  of  the  rich  and  mighty  consent  to  hear  of  the 
new  kingdom.  Jesus  likens  it  to  a  marriage-feast  where 


154  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

the  rich  and  great  being  first  invited  made  light  of  it, 
and  their  places  were  filled  by  the  poor  from  the  high- 
ways." Barjona  rested  his  bearded  chin  on  the  top  of 
his  staff  and  reflected  a  moment  with  a  grim  sort  of 
smile.  "  I  bethink  me,"  said  he,  "  of  that  rich  ruler 
beyond  Jordan  that  showed  an  inclination  for  a  little 
while  to  hearken  unto  us.  But  when  the  Jcurios  required 
of  him  that  he  first  give  up  all  his  private  possessions, 
he  turned  from  us.  Then  said  the  kurios,  c  How  squeam- 
ishly 10  shall  they  that  have  riches  enter  into  God's 
kingdom ! ' : 

Hyrcanus  regarded  the  man's  broken  sandals  and 
patched  cloak. 

"  Thou  endurest  much  now,  Simon.  But  if  thy  new 
kingdom  be  set  up,  thy  reward  will  be  great.  Thou 
wilt  then  take  thine  ease  and  compel  others  to  labour 
and  supply  thy  wants." 

But  the  fisherman,  sturdily  squaring  his  shoulders, 
shook  his  red  beard. 

"  Nay,  I  know  not.  Jesus  oft  teacheth  us  in  para- 
bles. He  hath  likened  the  new  kingdom  to  a  vineyard 
wherein  some  labour  from  early  morning,  being  first 
hired ;  others  are  hired  at  the  third  hour ;  and  others  who 
have  stood  idle  in  the  market-place  because  no  man  hath 
hired  them,  labour  from  the  sixth  and  ninth  and  eleventh 
hours.  Yet  is  every  man  paid  his  full  day's  wage, — 
whether  he  hath  laboured  throughout  the  day  or  hath 
but  stood  ready  to  work.  I  may  not  altogether  perceive 
the  meaning.  But  it  may  be  that  in  the  new  kingdom 
will  be  neither  rich  nor  poor,  neither  lord  nor  beggar. 
Each  shall  give  according  to  his  strength  and  as  he  is 


BETHANY  155 

required,  and  all  shall  receive  according  to  their  needs. 
.  .  .  But  lo,  the  sun  cometh  up !     I  must  go !  " 
And  he  embraced  Hyrcanus  and  departed. 


Ill 

HYRCANUS  lay  hid  in  the  little  house  and  fenced 
garden  at  Bethany,  slowly  regaining  strength. 
With  the  new  moon  of  Chislev  he  prepared  to 
journey  back  to  the  robber-infested  hills  of  Gilead  where 
he  would  be  safe  from  the  Pharisees  or  Romans.  But 
he  lingered  on  from  day  to  day,  reluctant  to  burst  the 
tender  meshes  which  the  love  and  heart-service  of  this 
humble  household  had  woven. 

The  parting  came  at  last  somewhat  of  the  suddenest. 

One  evening  Lazarus  ran  in,  the  breathless  bearer  of 
alarming  news.  A  rumour  had  spread  throughout  Je- 
rusalem that  Hyrcanus  was  alive, —  not  buried  beneath 
the  ruins  of  Shealtiel's  house  as  first  supposed,  but 
wounded  and  lying  concealed  somewhere  near.  It  was 
the  topic  of  the  hour  at  the  bazaars  and  market-places. 
The  Pharisees  were  in  turmoil  over  it.  Roman  bands 
had  already  searched  several  suspected  houses. 

How  this  rumour  started  none  knew.  But,  hearing 
of  it,  the  prince  quickly  put  on  some  coarse  brown  gar- 
ments, bound  a  pair  of  leather  sandals  to  his  feet,  seized 
a  staff  and  a  scrip,  pressed  the  heads  of  Mary  and 
Martha  in  farewell,  and  issued  forth. 

Lazarus  guided  him  behind  the  village  by  hedged 
fields  and  gardens,  and  set  his  feet  upon  the  road  to 
Jericho.  The  good,  simple  man  embraced  his  departing 

guest. 

156 


BETHANY  157 

"  A  cloud  draweth  up  from  the  south,"  he  muttered, 
peering  uneasily  about.  "  It  will  be  a  dark  night  for 
thee,  yea,  dark!  The  mountain  path  is  rough  and 
steep.  ...  I  like  not  this  stillness  of  the  air."  He 
paused  a  moment  with  his  face  turned  aside  to  listen. 
There  was  a  barking  of  dogs  in  the  village  behind  them. 
"  Hear  thou  how  loud  soundeth  that  noise !  A  storm  is 
rising.  Nay !  "  he  cried  impulsively,  "  I  will  go  with 
thee  yet  a  little  way,  even  to  the  top  of  the  hill." 

He  accompanied  Hyrcanus  thus  far,  embraced  him 
again,  and  bade  him  farewell,  but  then  decided  to  con- 
tinue with  him  to  the  foot  of  the  hill.  And  so  he  might 
have  gone  on  and  on,  had  not  Hyrcanus  stopped  him. 

"  O  my  friend,  thou  hast  laboured  to-day  in  the  fields. 
Rob  not  thy  night  of  rest.  Return  now, —  for  all  ways 
must  end  at  a  parting,  be  it  soon  or  late.  God  be  with 
thee ! " 

"With  thee !  —  with  thee !  "  said  Lazarus,  and  em- 
braced him,  and  went  back. 

But  presently,  as  Hyrcanus  walked  onward  in  the  twi- 
light, he  heard  a  sound  of  feet  running,  and  faced  about. 
Lazarus  came  up  once  more,  panting. 

"  Take  thou  this  staff !  —  it  is  stouter  than  thine ! 
—  the  paths  are  steep.  Dark  will  be  the  night !  And 
this  quiet  in  the  air  —  I  like  it  not.  Guard  thy  steps 
well !  And  there  be  strong  thieves  abroad." 

They  embraced  a  last  time  and  departed. 

Hyrcanus  set  his  face  towards  the  east.  At  his  back 
were  the  darkling  hills  of  Jerusalem,  before  him  the  arid, 
grewsome  mountains.  A  few  streaked  clouds  overhead 
reflected  a  sullen  remnant  of  day  in  reddish  colour.  But 


158  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

the  gloom  of  night  thickened  upon  the  face  of  the  earth. 
The  path  to  Jericho  led  down  into  rocky  river-beds, 
across  deep  gullies  carved  by  winter  torrents,  and  finally 
ascended  among  the  mountains  of  the  wilderness. 

That  region  has  been  called  the  saddest  in  the  world. 
Under  the  fast-fading  light  the  landscape  appeared  ex- 
traordinarily grandiose,  fierce,  and  repulsive.  The 
cliffs,  white  and  bleak,  and  the  vast  rain-cut  precipices 
wore  a  starved,  ignoble  vegetation.  Stunted  brown 
bushes  grew  there  like  blotches  on  the  face  of  nature. 

It  was  the  secure  abode  of  desolation.  From  the  un- 
cultivated hills  a  famished  jackal  yelped.  Ravens 
flapped  across  Hyrcanus's  path,  flying  swift  and  low 
with  sharp  cries,  as  if  in  fear  of  the  storm  that  had 
begun  to  grumble  behind  the  crags.  Horned  and 
bearded  goat-heads,  black  against  the  sky-line,  leered 
down  over  the  heights  at  the  solitary  traveller,  chuckled 
ominously,  and  vanished. 

A  thick  white  mist  rose  out  of  the  gulf  where  the 
brook  Cherith  splashed  below.  It  became  more  and 
more  difficult  for  Hyrcanus  to  see  the  path.  As  he 
trudged  on,  he  felt  often  before  him  with  his  staff. 
Owlets  and  bats,  that  seemed  confused  by  the  fog, 
swooped  squeaking  about  his  head. 

The  wind  had  fallen  dead  among  the  hills.  The 
peculiar  stillness  of  the  atmosphere  carried  noises  far. 
Everything  sounded  startlingly  distinct. 

Hyrcanus  stopped  short  of  a  sudden  and  listened. 
His  ear  had  caught  something  like  a  faint  clash  as 
though  a  shield  had  fallen  upon  the  rocks. 

He  stood  with  every  sense  alert.     Above  him  in  the 


BETHANY  169 

mist  and  darkness  a  voice  growled  out  a  Latin  oath. 
Other  voices  echoed  it.  And  now  he  began  to  hear  a 
trampling  and  slipping  of  iron-shod  hoofs. 

A  band  of  Roman  soldiers  were  descending  the  steep 
mountain-road,  cursing  the  black  night  and  invoking 
their  gods. 

Hyrcanus  looked  about  for  some  refuge. 

His  sharp  eyes  discovered  a  goat-track  leading  down 
to  the  brook  Cherith,  whose  torrent,  elate  with  recent 
rains,  plunged  hoarsely  among  boulders  far  beneath. 

Down  he  clambered  in  all  haste.  The  Romans  were 
already  rounding  a  point  of  rock  above  in  the  narrow 
defile;  they  were  leading  their  horses  and  carrying 
flaming  links,  around  which  golden  aureoles  bloomed  in 
the  thick  air.  To  keep  beyond  this  illumination,  Hyr- 
canus, being  pledged  to  the  downward  track,  descended 
lower  and  lower. 

He  planted  his  staff  in  crevices  of  the  rocks  and  felt 
cautiously  for  footing.  Thus  he  came  down  to  the 
foaming  Cherith. 

The  advancing  torches  flung  fitful  flashes  into  the 
deep  chasm ;  and  by  that  light  he  discerned  some  natural 
stepping-stones  across  the  brook  and  a  narrow  projec- 
tion or  ledge  that  wound  gradually  up  the  rough  face 
of  the  opposite  cliff. 

There  was  no  help  for  it.  He  achieved  the  farther 
side  by  leaping  from  boulder  to  boulder. 

But  now  as  he  ascended  the  ledge,  he  was  conscious  of 
a  sudden  portentous  change  in  the  atmosphere. 

A  mighty  wind  poured  through  the  chasm,  and  be- 
gan to  drive  the  fog,  which  fled  in  grey  phantoms  around 


160  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

the  ribs  of  the  cliff.  Melancholy  murmurs  awoke,  con- 
fused hollow  noises  above  the  splash  of  waters. 

The  Romans  passed  down  the  narrow  mountain-road 
on  the  other  side  of  the  chasm  without  perceiving  the 
fugitive  who  watched  them.  They  were  holding  up 
their  lighted  links  to  see  their  way.  The  timid  horses 
snorted  and  hung  back  against  the  steep  grade. 
Finally  a  curve  of  the  hill  shut  them  all  from  view  and 
the  scudding  mist  blotted  out  the  last  gleam  of  their 
torches. 

Hyrcanus  waited  a  while,  listening  to  the  rattle  of 
loosened  gravel  and  gruff  foreign  oaths.  At  last  only 
the  rush  of  agitated  water  and  sighing  of  the  wind  re- 
mained. 

But  now  the  listener  was  startled  by  a  loud  abrupt 
peal  of  thunder.  The  storm  that  had  been  muttering 
behind  the  mountains  was  about  to  break.  He  sought 
hastily  some  sort  of  shelter.  A  first  flicker  of  lightning 
revealed  in  the  living  rock  the  mouth  of  a  little  cave, — 
perhaps  the  selfsame  spot  where  of  old  Elijah  was  fed 
by  ravens. 

Any  refuge  would  suffice.  He  crept  within,  loosed 
his  girdle,  and  laid  aside  his  food-bulging  scrip.  Under 
the  low-hanging  roof  of  rock  he  crouched  on  one  knee 
and  waited. 

The  storm  seemed  to  be  rolling  on  and  on.  The 
great  wind  rushed  and  rumbled  through  the  chasm 
with  deep  hollow  moans.  In  that  sound  was  a  wailing 
of  innumerable  peoples  and  tongues,  a  vast  outcry  of 
earth.  Leaves  and  twigs  flew  by  the  cave-mouth  like 
flocks  of  grotesque  night-spirits  frightened  from  their 


BETHANY  161 

dark  haunts  by  the  pallid  flickers  on  the  upper  rocks. 

The  rim  of  the  on-sweeping  thundercloud  pushed  out 
over  the  mountain's  naked  head.  It  erased  the  stars  as 
if  a  hand  had  dashed  water  on  the  embers  of  a  fire. 

While  Hyrcanus  crouched  and  waited,  his  ear  began 
to  be  tormented  by  a  peculiar  little  noise  of  advancing 
footsteps. 

In  the  pauses  of  the  wind,  nay,  sharply  pene- 
trating the  wind  like  a  needle  through  thick  cloth,  he 
seemed  always  to  hear  that  tread. 

It  was  an  eternal  sound  of  feet,  weary  and  patient, 
that  toiled  on  and  on  through  the  night.  It  seemed  to 
tell  of  some  solitary  wanderer  among  the  hills.  The 
shrillest  buffeting  of  the  storm  carried  the  quiet  sound 
of  those  footsteps;  and  when  at  intervals  the  wind 
abruptly  perished,  still  they  could  be  heard.  Now  they 
were  clearer,  now  fainter,  as  if  the  noises  were  tossed 
by  wayward  eddies  of  air  which  haunted  the  winding 
walls  of  the  chasm. 

At  moments  the  feet  seemed  to  falter,  about  to  halt, 
too  tired  to  go  on,  or  uncertain  of  the  path.  But 
then  they  always  continued,  stumbling,  unsteady,  slow, 
a  dead  lift  of  effort. 

This  weary  reiteration,  whether  sharply  distinct  or 
almost  lost  amid  the  hurrying  voices  of  the  storm,  ex- 
pressed always  an  anguish  of  failing  strength.  It  was 
mournful  beyond  all  human  sorrow.  It  seemed  to  say 
that  he  who  walked  there  in  darkness  strained  beneath 
the  weight  of  the  whole  world,  contending  against  all  the 
leagued  powers  of  death  and  elemental  nature. 

Hyrcanus  listening  to  those  unearthly  footfalls  laid  a 


162  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

tremulous  hand  upon  his  dagger-hilt.  His  eyes  dilated. 
The  hair  prickled  on  his  head. 

"  Who  cometh!  "  he  ejaculated  at  last.  "  What  seek 
ye  here !  " 

A  tired  and  gentle  voice  replied  to  him  out  of  the 
darkness. 

"  Foxes  have  holes  and  birds  of  the  air  nests,  but  the 
son  of  man  hath  not  where  to  lay  his  head." 

Lightning  blazed  whitely  from  cliff  to  cliff.  A  ter- 
rific thunderpeal  reverberated.  In  the  blinding  sheet  of 
light,  Hyrcanus  beheld  on  the  narrow  ledge  outside  the 
cave  a  dark,  thin  form,  bent  forward,  moving  against 
the  mighty  wind  with  back-blown  garments. 

"  Peace  be  unto  thee !  "  he  cried. 

"  And  unto  thee !  " 

"Enter!"  he  said  then  joyfully.  "Enter,  for  I 
know  thy  voice!  Be  without  fear."  He  reached  out 
and  drew  the  stranger  in  by  the  sleeve.  The  first  large 
drops  of  rain  were  striking  against  the  cliff.  "  Art 
not  thou,"  he  demanded,  "  that  carpenter  of  Nazareth 
that  proclaimeth  a  new  kingdom?" 

"  Thou  hast  said." 

"  Nay  then, —  may  fire  consume  me !  —  thou  'hast 
naught  to  fear.  I  will  chop  like  barley-straw  him  that 
layeth  so  much  as  a  finger  on  thee!  Art  thou  an 
hungered?  Here  is  meat."  He  opened  his  scrip. 
"  Bread  and  figs  wilt  thou  find  in  abundance.  Eat  and 
be  filled.  The  food  cometh  from  the  house  of  thy 
friends  at  Bethany." 

That  other  sat  down  against  the  side  of  the  cave  to 


BETHANY  163 

rest,  and  having  given  thanks  broke  the  bread  and  began 
to  eat. 

Outside,  the  elements  waged  for  a  while  a  furious 
conflict.  Then  the  fire-flashing  front  of  the  storm  rolled 
on  over  the  crags.  Afterwards  was  to  be  heard  chiefly 
the  loud  pouring  of  rain  and,  below,  the  hoarse  splash- 
ing of  Cherith. 

Hyrcanus  peered  forward  in  an  effort  to  discern  the 
carpenter's  features.  A  last  flicker  of  lightning  re- 
vealed the  dark,  wasted  countenance.  The  carpenter 
sat  on  the  floor  of  the  cave  supporting  his  heavy  brow 
upon  his  hand.  The  picture  was  glimpsed  and  lost,  all 
in  a  flash. 

"  Rabbi !  "  cried  Hyrcanus.  "  I  perceive  thou  diest 
of  fatigue.  Yet  ere  thou  sleep  I  would  ask  concerning 
a  matter, —  if  so  thou  will?  —  or  wilt  thou  that  I  wait 
till  the  morrow  ?  " 

"  Ask  now, —  for  who  knoweth  what  the  morrow  may 
bring  forth ! " 

"  I  heard  thee  speaking,  Rabbi,  at  Bethany  in  the 
night.  Long  have  I  pondered  thy  words.  They 
trouble  my  head.  In  the  watches  of  the  night  when 
sleep  hath  fallen  on  other  men,  thy  words  come  oft  to 
abide  with  me.  I  know  thy  purpose  to  abase  the  proud 
and  rich  and  lift  up  the  lowly  in  thy  new  kingdom,  till 
all  men  shall  be  as  brethren.  But  how  then  ?  Will  not 
the  strong  men  and  cunning  take  away  again  little  by 
little  the  goods  of  the  simple  and  weak  and  finally 
trample  them  again  underfoot?  I  perceive  the  last 
stage  of  thy  kingdom  to  be  but  as  now.  Or  hast  thou 


164  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

some  new  law  whereby  to  keep  thy  people  in  the  way! 
What  new  justice  dost  thou  proclaim!  What  new  law 
dost  thou  decree !  " 

The  carpenter's  quiet  voice  answered, — 

"  Is  not  this  such  a  law  ?  —  As  ye  would  that  men 
should  do  to  you,  do  ye  also  to  them." 

A  silence  followed  that  was  not  broken  for  some  time. 
The  rain  had  ceased.  The  dwindling  thunders  of  the 
storm  rumbled  beyond  the  hills.  From  across  the 
chasm  an  owl  began  to  hoot  shrilly. 

Hyrcanus  sighed.     At  last  he  muttered, — 

"  There  rush  over  me  lights  mingled  with  shadows.  I 
would  ask  .  .  .  Nay,  do  thou  sleep  now.  I  will  think. 
Here  is  stuff  for  much  thinking." 

And  he  went  out  and  sat  by  the  cave  door. 

The  moon  had  appeared.  It  was  raining  showers  of 
glory  down  the  wet  glistening  black  cliffs.  Where 
Cherith  brawled  below  in  darkness,  jackals  yelped, 
creeping  out  again  in  search  of  prey.  The  owl  across 
the  chasm  continued  at  intervals  its  sharp  wavering 
hoots. 

Hyrcanus  drew  his  mantle  close  about  him  against  the 
air,  which  was  much  colder  after  the  storm.  He 
dropped  his  chin  upon  his  breast. 

From  long  meditation  he  must  have  passed  unawares 
into  troubled  sleep.  It  seemed  that  he  stood  again  in 
the  thick  of  the  struggle  at  Shealtiel's  gate,  hewing  and 
thrusting  at  Roman  shields.  Suddenly  rang  in  his  ears 
a  wild,  gasping  cry, — 

"  Save  me,  Master!  I  served  theef  Thou  owest  me 
this!  " 


BETHANY  165 

"  As  God  liveth,  I  will  save  thee,  Barabbas ! " 

With  the  effort  to  reply  he  awoke  himself,  his  lips 
still  shaping  the  words. 

Morning  had  come.  He  was  numb  with  cold.  On 
the  hilltops,  veiled  in  thin  mist,  a  grey  clear  light  had 
spread  which  penetrated  even  to  the  bottom  of  the 
chasm.  Twitters  and  bird-calls  sounded  in  the  bushes 
all  about. 

The  little  cave  behind  him  was  empty. 

But  as  he  lifted  his  eyes,  he  saw  far  up  the  opposite 
hill-side  the  slight,  bent  form  of  the  carpenter  trudging 
towards  the  south. 

He  was  still  looking,  when  the  distant  figure  reached 
the  summit  and  turned  and  waved  a  hand  in  farewell. 
The  first  bright  arrows  of  the  sun  flashed  at  that  mo- 
ment upon  the  spot.  In  the  golden  radiance  a  flock  of 
little  birds,  quite  unafraid,  flew  circling  about  the  bare 
head  of  the  carpenter. 


IV 

HYRCANUS   went   down   through   the   desolate 
mountains  towards  Jericho,  the  splendid  city  of 
palaces  and  palms  that  lay  in  the  great  plain 
to  the  east. 

As  he  descended,  he  saw  in  the  distance  columns  of 
dust  along  all  the  main-travelled  roads  where  strings  of 
camels  and  asses  were  moving.  He  avoided  a  near  ap- 
proach to  the  busy  gates  and  went  around  the  city 
southward  by  footpaths  through  the  fields. 

Here  he  encountered  chiefly  labourers  with  their  im- 
plements, and  children  that  stopped  to  stare  at  the 
stranger.  Sometimes  peasant  women  passed  him,  strid- 
ing towards  the  city  and  bearing  on  their  backs  great 
bundles  of  grey  prickly  thyme  called  "  grass  of  the 
field,"  and  used  for  heating  ovens. 

The  ground  long  burnt  by  summer  heat  showed  a 
tender  green  after  the  recent  rains.  Jericho's  great 
plantations  of  date-palms  were  cultivated  by  hundreds 
upon  hundreds  of  slaves,  the  spear-taken  n  captives 
whose  cheap  enforced  labour  oppressed  also  the  free 
labourers  and  whose  deliverance  therefore  was  among 
the  proclamations  of  God's  kingdom  most  gladly  ac- 
cepted. They  toiling  in  the  sun  under  taskmasters  gave 
little  heed  to  the  solitary  foot-traveller.  But  Hyr- 
canus  paused  often  at  the  side  of  the  field  and  ob- 
served them  with  a  new-born  interest. 

166 


BETHANY  167 

It  was  as  if  scales  had  fallen  from  his  eyes  in  the 
night.  He  gazed  upon  the  misery  of  those  creatures 
who  produced  the  abundance  of  others,  and  repeated 
with  wonder, — 

"  As  thou  wouldst  that  men  should  do  to  thee !  " 

The  more  he  revolved  this  saying  in  his  mind,  the 
more  fecund  it  seemed  to  grow.  It  developed  unex- 
pected ramifications,  till  he  walked  in  an  enormous 
dream.  He  pictured  a  kingdom  under  such  a  system 
of  laws.  He  peopled  it  with  men  who  wrought  not  for 
themselves  only  but,  like  the  Essenes,  for  the  common 
good.  A  kingdom  without  masters,  without  soldiers 
such  as  the  ones  that  galloped  on  the  roads,  without 
merchants  like  that  fat  one  yonder  who  ambled  on  his 
white  ass  to  buy  cheaply  at  shrewd  bargaining  and  sell 
dearly, —  what  a  strange  kingdom  it  would  be! 

No  usurers,  no  landlords,  no  debtors,  no  slaves,  no 
beggars ! 

Often  he  drifted  to  a  stop  in  the  middle  of  the  path, 
then  started  on  with  swifter  strides.  The  gigantic  ab- 
surdity of  the  idea  sometimes  overwhelmed  him  and  he 
laughed  aloud. 

"  As  thou  wouldst  others  should  to  thee !  Why,  as 
I  would  be  king,  I  must  therefore  make  all  men  kings !  " 

He  strove  repeatedly  to  expel  the  thought  from  his 
mind,  but  presently  would  be  poring  on  the  ground 
again  and  slackening  his  pace.  Passers-by  who  ob- 
served his  strange  actions,  mutterings,  and  gestures 
judged  him  demented. 

Musing  and  loitering  thus  he  spent  the  whole  day  in 
his  journey  across  the  great  plain  of  Jericho.  At 


168  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

nightfall  he  sought  out  a  certain  poor  f reedman  named 
Timothy,  dwelling  not  far  from  old  Bethabara,  to 
whom  Lazarus  had  directed  him. 

There  he  obtained  food  and  shelter,  and  at  daybreak 
arose  and  went  upon  his  way. 

The  palm-trees  gave  place  to  white  desert,  the  desert 
in  turn  to  a  tangled  line  of  tamarisks  and  acacias ;  and 
next  before  his  eyes  rushed  the  strong  flood  of  Jordan 
between  its  green  banks  of  blowing  reeds.  A  halcyon 
—  a  vision  of  green  and  gold  —  flapped  out  of  the 
water  and  sailed  away  towards  the  purple  mountains 
of  Moab. 

Hyrcanus  had  arrived  at  the  bank  of  the  Jordan  some 
five  furlongs  below  the  ancient  ford  of  Bethabara,  shun- 
ning the  crowds.  From  where  he  stood  he  could  tell 
by  the  glints  of  metal  and  rising  dust  that  a  numerous 
armed  caravan  was  even  then  crossing  into  Perea. 

He  divested  himself  of  his  garments,  made  them  fast 
upon  a  stick  of  driftwood,  and  pushing  this  before  him 
waded  out  into  the  current. 

A  drowned  camel  that  seemed  to  have  been  lately 
washed  down  from  the  ford  lay  against  the  opposite 
bank,  half  in  and  half  out  of  water.  Three  grey  vul- 
tures were  already  perched  on  its  hump  and  on  its 
blackened  charcoal  pannier.  As  Hyrcanus  waded,  the 
three  soared  up  with  screams  and  alighted  on  a  dead 
terebinth  tree  and  fixed  their  fiery  eyes  gloatingly  on 
his  white  flesh. 

He  swam  the  racing  current  with  strong  quick 
strokes,  struggled  to  a  footing  in  the  shallow  water  near 
the  dead  camel,  and  climbed  out  upon  the  bank. 


BETHANY  169 

He  reclothed  himself  under  the  green  curtain  of 
bushes,  and  made  haste  to  depart. 

But  as  he  pressed  through  the  close  foliage,  putting 
aside  the  leafy  boughs  from  before  him,  he  came  unex- 
pectedly on  one  who  he  saw  at  once  had  been  the  driver 
of  the  drowned  camel  and  had  narrowly  avoided  its 
fate. 

The  man  crouched  on  the  sand  in  his  wet  coal- 
streaked  rags,  a  figure  of  abject  woe.  Hearing  ap- 
proaching feet,  he  held  up  his  left  palm  dumbly  for 
alms  without  so  much  as  lifting  his  eyes. 

Hyrcanus  dropped  some  silver  and  copper  coins  into 
the  upstretched  hand. 

"  What  I  have,  unhappy  one,"  said  he,  "  I  give  thee 
in  the  name  of  God." 

But  at  the  words  the  beggar  started  up  in  haste, 
spilling  the  coins,  glared  wildly  into  the  prince's  face, 
cast  himself  down  on  the  path  before  him,  clutched  the 
skirts  of  his  garment,  and  uttered  strange,  harsh  gut- 
tural noises. 

"  What  sayest  thou  ?  "  Hyrcanus  asked. 

He  looked  at  the  man  more  attentively. 

The  beggar's  body  was  deformed  and  undersized,  his 
skin  blackened  both  by  sun  and  coal.  A  tangled  mop 
of  coarse  horse-like  hair  covered  his  head  and  partly 
hid  his  face.  The  scars  of  some  recent  hideous  torture 
made  him  appear  scarcely  human.  His  right  hand  had 
been  struck  off  at  the  wrist.  His  right  eye  had  been 
torn  out,  leaving  the  flesh  much  sunken  in  at  the  socket. 

"  Canst  thou  not  frame  to  pronounce  aright  ?  "  said 
Hyrcanus.  But  the  beggar  opened  his  jaws  wide  and 


170  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

pointed  in,  showing  a  gaping  cavity.  "  Ah,  thy  tongue 
is  gone !  —  it  hath  been  torn  from  its  roots.  Mayest 
thou  not  then  by  signs  make  known  thy  wants?  .  .  ." 
Hyrcanus  stopped,  stared,  and  of  a  sudden  cried, 
"  Nadab ! " 

It  was  the  camel-driver. 

The  prince  laid  his  hands  upon  the  mutilated  wretch's 
head  and  wept.  Hot  tears  scalded  his  eyes  as  he  re- 
membered what  a  sacrifice  this  man  would  have  made  for 
him. 

"  Nadab !  Nadab !  And  is  it  thus  thou  wast  re- 
paid!" 

Nadab  nodded,  pointed  to  his  empty  eye-socket, 
lifted  his  stump  of  arm,  and  gestured  eloquently  to- 
wards Jerusalem. 

"  Who  hath  done  this  thing !  By  God's  wrath,  I  will 
render  unto  him  double !  Those  torments  he  hath 
made  thee  suffer  shall  be  unto  his  as  thy  little  finger 
unto  his  whole  body  !  Who  hath  done  it !  " 

Nadab  pointed  towards  the  distant  ford  and  the 
crossing  caravan,  and  wistfully  scrutinised  Hyrcanus's 
face.  But  when  he  saw  that  his  meaning  was  not  com- 
prehended, he  traced  with  his  finger  in  the  sand  a  crude 
sketch  of  a  woman  and  on  her  head  a  fragment  of  a 
crown.  Thereunder  he  subjoined  an  outline  of  a 
tower. 

"  Thou  hast  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  daughter 
of  Herodias  ?  " 

He  nodded. 

Continual  fear  beset  the  camel-driver.  He  arose  fre- 
quently and  peered  over  the  bushes,  beckoning  Hyr- 


BETHANY  171 

canus  meantime  to  remain  hidden.  His  apprehension 
seemed  to  be  that  search  would  be  made  for  him. 

But  the  caravan  having  crossed  at  Bethabara  moved 
on, —  a  long,  slow  train  of  laden  camels,  pack-asses,  and 
armed  horsemen, —  into  the  wilderness  of  Perea. 

He  became  convinced  at  last  that  either  he  was 
esteemed  of  no  value  or  was  believed  to  be  drowned. 
Thereupon  he  squatted  down  before  Hyrcanus  and  com- 
menced a  narrative  of  his  misfortunes.  Adroit  in  the 
use  of  signs,  he  enlarged  his  meaning  by  tracings  on  the 
sand,  by  grunts,  nasal  noises,  and  wonderful  contor- 
tions of  face  and  body. 

He  made  clear  how  when  he  had  escaped  from  Sheal- 
tiel's  house  by  clinging  beneath  the  belly  of  his  camel, 
he  had  sought  straightway  the  daughter  of  Herodias. 
The  Tower  of  Phasaelus  was  flashing  with  lights  that 
evening  and  noisy  with  mirth.  A  company  was  as- 
sembled feasting  and  drinking;  for  the  mighty  Aristo- 
bulus  of  Damascus  had  sent  his  envoys  with  rich  gifts 
asking  the  hand  of  Salome  in  marriage. 

"  Even  so,"  said  Hyrcanus  gloomily.  "  She  chose 
to  ascend  by  a  surer  ladder  to  the  throne." 

The  camel-driver,  debarred  from  the  banquet-hall  be- 
cause of  his  ignoble  birth,  obtained  the  connivance  of 
the  tricliniarch  and  was  enabled  to  send  in  the  amethyst 
stone  among  the  baked  meats.  He  peeped  between  the 
outer  curtains  and  watched.  The  token  was  brought 
to  Salome  as  she  reclined  upon  her  purple  couch  among 
her  guests.  Her  eye  fell  upon  it  even  at  the  moment 
when  she  extended  her  hand  with  a  jest  and  laughter  to 
that  envoy  who  reclined  nearest.  But  neither  her  hand 


172  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

shook  nor  her  colour  changed.  She  whispered  a  word 
over  her  naked  shoulder  to  Abaddon  who  stood  behind 
her  couch.  The  huge  black  eunuch  came  quickly  from 
the  hall,  led  away  that  ill-omened  messenger,  dragged 
him  to  a  dungeon  under  the  tower  where  his  cries  could 
not  be  heard,  and  there  mutilated  him  in  a  manner  to 
insure  his  silence. 

Salome  was  a  woman  of  discretion.  The  flattering 
offers  of  Aristobulus  had  decided  her  that  these  new 
hopes  of  the  crown  were  surer  than  those  invested  in 
the  desperate  attempt  of  the  outlawed  Asmonean. 
Nay,  more ;  she  had  seen  at  once  that  she  must  conceal 
her  past  intrigue  and  strike  Hyrcanus  from  her  path. 
She  it  was,  and  no  other,  who  had  betrayed  Hyrcanus 
to  the  Romans.  The  grinning  Abaddon  boasted  of 
this  with  gibes  to  Nadab  while  administering  the  torture. 

"  Thy  signs,"  said  Hyrcanus,  putting  his  hand  to  his 
breast,  "  but  confirm  the  thoughts  that  have  long  burned 
here  .  .  .  Oh,  that  my  hour  of  vengeance  were  come! 
Yea,  and  thine!  For  thy  tongue,  Nadab,  which  she 
hath  torn  out, —  thou  shalt  show  her  a  sharper  tongue 
of  iron  speaking  death.  But  now  say  to  me,  how 
earnest  thou  hither  ?  " 

The  mute  indicated  by  gestures  that  Salome  had  de- 
tained him  among  her  servants,  half  prisoner  half 
menial,  until  this  accident  at  Bethabara  had  drowned 
Esau  but  swept  himself  to  liberty. 

Hyrcanus  sprang  to  his  feet  at  that  and  gazed  in- 
credulously northward  over  the  bending  bushes. 

"  What  meanest  thou !  Is  it  Salome  who  goeth 
yonder  with  her  people !  Salome !  " 


BETHANY  173 

Nadab  bowed  his  dishevelled  head  in  affirmation. 

The  idle  daughter  of  Herodias  had  lingered  many 
weeks  among  the  splendid  baths  and  forbidden  pleas- 
ures of  the  Grecian  city  of  Jericho.  She  was  now  set- 
ting out  through  the  desert  to  Damascus,  there  to  join 
her  husband. 

Hyrcanus's  eyes  flashed. 

"  She  designeth  to  pass  the  night  at  the  old  khan  by 
Jabbok,"  said  he,  and  stood  a  while  thoughtful,  with 
darkened  face.  "  She  hath  her  armed  men  by  hun- 
dreds, her  horses,  spears,  bucklers,  and  swords.  And  I 
—  I  have  naught.  Yet  shalt  thou  sup  thy  fill  of  venge- 
ance !  Come." 

It  seemed  that  Nadab  cared  little  for  vengeance  or 
much  for  safety.  He  grovelled  on  the  sand  with  un- 
couth noises,  clutching  at  the  prince's  cloak.  His 
whole  body  was  one  protest.  But  Hyrcanus,  sternly 
resolved,  in  bitterness  of  heart  too  deep  for  outward 
show,  raised  him. 

"  Up,  and  fear  not !  Henceforth  art  thou  safe  un- 
der my  wing.  I  bid  thee  follow.  Nay, —  draw  not 
back  weeping!  Thou  who  hast  lost  tongue  and  eye  and 
hand  for  me, —  thou  shalt  laugh  in  thy  heart  this  night 
for  joy.  I  will  do  for  thee  that  which  I  would  that  thou 
shouldst  for  me,  were  I  Nadab  and  thou  Hyrcanus.  It 
is  a  new  law  which  I  obey, —  yea,  a  law  splendid  and 
good  and  worthy  of  a  king !  " 

They  went  northward  among  low  sand-hills. 

Afar  on  the  desert  to  their  right  a  low  line  of  dust 
marked  where  Salome's  company  followed  an  ancient 
route  that  was  fringed  by  white  bones.  But  Hyrcanus, 


174  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

to  whom  that  desolate  region  was  known  as  the  mark- 
ings upon  his  palm,  struck  directly  through  the  hills  for 
the  brook  Jabbok. 

Day  wore  to  evening.  Long  shadows  stretched  east- 
ward over  the  sands.  The  sun  went  down  behind  the 
dark  Samaritan  mountains  like  a  fiery  chariot-wheel. 
The  wind  blew  cold  out  of  the  desert.  A  lion  roared 
beside  some  near-by  pool,  and  was  answered  from  afar 
by  hoarse  booming  throats. 

Night  was  descending  quickly,  like  an  outspread  veil. 
The  purple  sky  already  began  to  be  flecked  with  lumi- 
nous golden  points.  Nadab  crept  closer  to  the  heels  of 
his  silent  companion  and  plucked  at  the  hem  of  his 
mantle. 

"What  troubleth  thee?  "  asked  Hyrcanus  in  a  kind 
voice,  turning  and  laying  his  hand  on  the  cringing 
head.  "  Be  at  peace,  little  brother.  Is  not  mine  arm 
over  thee!  Thou  hast  beheld  me  vanquished  in  the 
town,  but  still  am  I  lord  of  the  desert."  And  he  strode 
on. 

Jackals  yelped.  Out  of  the  deeper  shadows 
clamoured  hideously  the  skulking  ferocious  hyena.  All 
creatures  of  day  had  fled;  only  beasts  of  night  now 
roamed  in  search  of  prey.  But  Hyrcanus  regarded 
with  indifference  the  wild  stealthy  forms  around  at 
which  his  companion  trembled.  He  ascended  to  the  top 
of  a  ridge  of  sand.  From  that  elevation  were  visible 
a  few  fires  gleaming  brightly  in  the  middle  distance. 

"  Lo,"  said  he,  "  our  enemy  lieth  already  at  the 
khan.  To-night  thy  heart  shall  glut  its  vengeance." 

Again  Nadab  flung  himself  down  to  clasp  the  prince's 


BETHANY  175 

knees,  mutely  imploring  him  to  proceed  no  farther. 
Tears  streamed  down  his  woe-begone  features. 

But  Hyrcanus,  seeing  in  these  actions  only  how  mis- 
fortune had  crushed  the  wretched  man's  spirit,  drew 
him  onward  by  the  hand.  They  were  hard  by  a  deep 
cleft  which  formed  the  wady  or  gorge  of  the  brook 
Jabbok.  He  drew  him  down  a  steep  path  into  this 
place. 

Threading  his  course  with  an  assured  step  amongst 
the  jagged  rocks  and  grey  dead  trees  beside  the  mur- 
muring black  stream,  he  came  to  a  roomy  cavern  arched 
above  a  level  floor  of  pebbles.  The  cavern  had  served 
at  some  former  time  for  a  habitation  or  defence.  A 
wall  or  high  breastwork  of  rough  stones  enclosed  the 
front,  except  a  narrow  entrance.  As  the  two  men  ap- 
proached, a  spotted  leopard  bounded  out  of  the  cavern 
over  the  wall  into  the  thick  twilight  with  a  savage  snarl. 

Hyrcanus  collected  some  dry  sticks  and  kindled  a 
fire  behind  the  rocks.  He  fed  Nadab  and  ministered 
solicitously  to  his  wants. 

"  Take  my  cloak,"  said  he  at  last,  "  and  lie  thou  here 
secure.  Ere  the  moon  shall  have  touched  the  fork 
of  that  tamarisk  thou  seest  above  on  the  bank,  I  shall 
return." 

He  passed  out  between  the  rocks  into  the  darkness. 
There  sounded  the  shuddering  laugh  of  a  hyena  which 
slunk  away  before  him,  and  he  was  gone. 

The  mute  ran  helplessly  round  and  round  the  little 
fire  of  sticks,  beat  his  breast,  fell  upon  his  knees,  and 
looked  up  at  the  stars. 


V 

THE  khan  at  the  brook  Jabbok  was  of  a  primitive 
type.  A  stone  wall  encircled  an  ancient  well 
and  three  unfruitful  fig  trees.  In  the  inces- 
sant desert  warfare  the  village  that  once  stood  near  had 
long  ago  been  razed;  and  only  a  ruinous  heap  half 
buried  in  tall  sparse  vegetation  marked  the  site. 

Caravans  journeying  from  Bethabara  to  Damascus 
usually  made  the  abandoned  khan  the  end  of  the  first 
day's  march.  And  here  the  royal  daughter  of  Herodias 
with  her  numerous  company  was  encamped. 

A  red  glow  of  dying  fires  outlined  above  the  wall  the 
black  figure  of  an  iron-capped  sentinel  leaning  on  his 
long  spear.  Against  the  soft  purple  vault  of  sky 
a-glitter  with  stars,  the  peaked  tops  of  a  group  of  tents 
could  be  discerned.  The  unsaddled  horses,  mules,  and 
asses  stood  tethered  together  beside  the  humps  of  kneel- 
ing camels  and  dromedaries. 

Quiet  had  settled  upon  the  crowded  encampment. 
Soldiers  and  slaves  had  disposed  themselves  for  sleep, 
except  the  half-dozen  members  of  the  watch,  who 
squatted  about  the  embers  of  a  fire  in  the  open  space 
before  the  principal  tent,  talking  drowsily  and  wrapped 
to  the  chin  against  the  cold  wind.  Now  and  then  the 
dogs  answered  with  raucous  defiance  the  howl  of  a 

wolf;  an  ass  brayed  in  fear;  or  a  horse  kicked  and 

176 


BETHANY  177 

squealed.     But  these  were   the   common   sounds   of  a 
night's  halt  in  the  desert. 

A  stealthy  form,  like  a  deeper  shadow  amid  the 
shadows,  emerged  from  a  weed-grown  gully  half  a 
stone's  toss  below  the  khan,  glided  to  the  wall  at  an 
unguarded  spot,  and  slid  over  it  into  the  huddle  of 
camels. 

There  was  a  slight  disturbance  among  the  timid  ani- 
mals. The  marauder,  as  if  he  were  only  a  sleepy  driver 
who  had  arisen  for  a  moment,  pretended  to  adjust  some 
loosened  trappings.  From  this  he  passed  on  naturally 
towards  the  centre  of  the  khan. 

He  walked  with  an  assurance  that  dispelled  suspi- 
cion, pausing  to  answer  with  prompt  jest  the  angry 
challenge  of  one  over  whose  body  he  was  stepping. 

"  Peace,  grunter ;  —  my  foot  touched  thee  not. 
Imagine  it  the  Passover  and  sleep  on !  " 

Coming  at  length  behind  the  great  central  tent,  he 
seemed  to  make  his  bed  among  the  cooks  and  menials 
there. 

But  the  spot  where  he  had  lain  down  was  empty 
a  minute  after.  He  had  crawled  into  the  dense  shadow 
of  the  black  tent-curtain,  where  he  lay  and  cautiously 
began  to  loosen  a  tent-peg.  The  sweeping  wind  caused 
the  curtain  constantly  to  sag  and  belly  with  a  rustling 
noise  which  concealed  his  operations.  Finally  he  in- 
serted his  head.  When  he  had  looked  and  listened  a 
while,  his  entire  body  followed,  gliding  under  like  a 
snake. 

The  large  tent  was  divided  into  two  compartments. 
In  the  outer  compartment,  illumined  dimly  by  a  lamp 


178  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

which  burned  behind  the  inner  curtain,  slept  the  per- 
sonal attendants  of  Salome.  They  lay  about  every- 
where in  relaxed  attitudes  on  mats  or  rugs,  pillowing 
their  heads  upon  their  arms. 

Across  the  entrance  of  the  inner  tent,  where  hung 
the  burning  lamp,  Abaddon  had  stretched  his  great 
black  limbs  upon  a  softly  rich  rug  of  the  incomparable 
Damascene  fabric.  His  unsheathed  scimitar  glistened 
at  his  side. 

Within,  Salome  reclined,  still  wakeful,  upon  a 
cushioned  settle.  A  meek  tiring  woman  slowly  combed 
with  long  gentle  strokes  her  unbound  glossy  hair.  An- 
other knelt  unfastening  the  golden  latchets  of  her 
sandals.  On  the  tent-pole  before  her  hung  a  polished 
mirror  of  steel. 

Gazing  thoughtfully  into  the  mirror,  Salome  smiled 
from  time  to  time  as  if  she  communed  with  her  own 
fair  reflection. 

"  Oh,  for  an  augur ! "  she  murmured. 

"  Thy  servant  heareth !  "  exclaimed  anxiously  both 
tiring-women,  thinking  themselves  spoken  to. 

"It  is  naught." 

Salome  was  in  a  temper  that  night  amazingly  affable. 
Her  attendants  questioned  one  another  with  mute 
glances.  When  the  gliding  comb  entangled  in  the 
hair  a  moment,  the  woman  M7ho  wielded  it  grew  white 
and  gasped.  But  Salome  only  smiled;  her  voice  of  re- 
proach was  as  gentle  as  the  purring  of  a  cat. 

"  Thy  hand  groweth  unsteady,  my  Lystra.  Art 
wearied  ?  " 

"  Oh,  pardon  thy  servant !  " 


BETHANY  179 

"  Nay,  thou  hast  combed  enough.  Bind  up  my  hair 
and  seek  thy  bed.  Thou  also,  Maachah,  mayest  de- 
part. But  stay ! "  She  turned  a  look  over  her 
shoulder.  "  Ere  thou  goest,  Maachah,  bring  unto  me 
once  again  the  letter  of  my  lord  Aristobulus." 

A  roll  of  papyrus  was  brought  to  her,  wound  around 
a  slender  rod  of  ivory  and  showing  a  broken  seal  of  the 
royal  house  of  Herod.  She  languidly  received  it. 

"  Well  hast  thou  earned  thy  rest,  good  Maachah. 
As  thou  goest  out,  pin  tighter  the  tent-flap.  I  like  not 
that  noise  of  shaking  in  the  wind." 

Being  alone,  she  unrolled  the  papyrus,  leaned  upon 
her  elbow,  and  slowly  read  again  certain  familiar 
passages. 

".  .  .  Touching  this  matter  of  the  kingdom,  O  Salome,  messen- 
gers from  Flaccus,  my  friend  of  years,  reach  me  but  now  with 
twice  a  camel-load  of  gifts  that  unloadeth,  even  as  I  write,  be- 
tween the  pilasters  of  my  court.  Here  in  my  hand  I  hold  his 
letter.  Judge  thou  if  these  hopes  be  founded  well  or  ill.  Agrippa, 
he  sayeth,  hath  at  a  feast  of  Caius,  being  flushed  with  wine, 
openly  wished  Tiberius  dead.  Therefore  is  Agrippa  cast  into 
chains.  Yet  hath  his  former  accusation  against  Antipas  sown 
seeds  of  distrust  too  deeply  in  Caesar's  mind  to  be  uprooted.  And 
Antipas  also  moveth  rather  to  doom  than  dominion.  .  .  . 

"Who  remaineth  but  thy  love-tormented  Aristobulus!  Flaccus 
giveth  me  to  believe  that  he  with  discreet  words  of  praise  hath 
assiduously  watered  that  good  opinion  which  Caesar  held  concern- 
ing me.  And  on  the  third  day  before  the  nones  of  August, 
seated  the  while  in  the  garden  of  his  villa  at  Capri,  great  Tiberius 
graciously  pronounced  these  words,  which  I  beg  thee  to  mark 
well.  'Of  all  the  Herodian  sons  (said  he)  that  one  who  abideth 
at  Damascus  hath  alone  given  me  no  sleepless  nights.  If  I  must 
purchase  my  peace  in  that  I  bestow  the  Judean  crown  on  one 
of  them,  Aristobulus  would  be  my  choice.  .  .  .' 

"  Thus,  O  my  Salome,  of  whom  my  thoughts  are  gilded  by  love 


180  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

as  yonder  rich  bales  of  Flaccus  on  my  portico  are  gilded  by  the 
setting  sun  .  .  ." 

The  papyrus  and  slender  ivory  stick  fell  rustling 
uopn  the  ground.  Salome  leaned  on  her  elbow  in 
reverie. 

"  The  setting  sun ! "  she  murmured.  "  Fie !  my 
Aristobulusl  I  like  not  thy  figure  of  the  setting 
sun ! " 

Afar  over  the  desert  boomed  the  dull  thunder  of 
lions.  The  weird  chorus  of  jackals  sang  ever  of  greed, 
famine  and  pillage.  The  tightly  pinned  tent  sagged, 
filled,  and  flapped  on  the  blowing  wind  with  a  monot- 
onous noise. 

"  Not  such  a  cedar  amongst  men  art  thou,  Aristo- 
bulus,"  she  murmured  again  after  a  little  while. 
"  Thou  stumblest  even  in  thy  courtesies.  Pah !  And 
to  lick  Cassar's  hand  as  a  dog  begs  scraps  of  meat !  .  .  . 
Yet, —  the  only  secure  way  .  .  .  For  dead  Hyrcanus, 
whose  desperate  throw  against  odds  ..."  A  slight 
sound  behind  disturbed  her  meditations.  "  Art  thou 
still  here,  Maachah  ?  "  she  inquired,  languidly  turning 
on  the  settle.  "  Replace  the  letter." 

But  fear  leaped  large  and  stiffened  in  her  face. 
She  arose  galvanically  and  sank  back. 

"  O  God  of  hosts,  beholdest  thou  this !  "  she  faltered. 

The  dead  man  whom  she  had  that  moment  recalled 
to  mind  stood  before  her.  Divested  of  his  outer  gar- 
ment like  a  wrestler,  his  dark  lithe  limbs  bare,  his  arms 
knotted  tight  across  his  chest  as  though  to  hold  down 
the  surging  heart  within,  he  stood  and  looked  intently 
upon  her.  The  lamplight,  shaken  by  the  wind,  sent 


BETHANY  181 

ripples  of  shadow  over  his  features,  which  were  com- 
posed in  a  calm  expression  more  ferocious  than  rage. 

"  Thou  art  not  of  this  world,  O  spirit ! "  she  gasped. 

"  O  short-memoried  daughter  of  Herodias,  an  outcry 
soundeth  thy  instant  death." 

"  They  told  me  Hyrcanus  slept  beneath  six  cubits  of 
fallen  walls  and  ashes !  " 

"  In  this  heart,  Salome,  was  something  concerning 
thee  that  would  not  let  me  sleep." 

"  Thou  designest  ill  unto  me !  That  sharp  blade  in 
thy  hand, —  in  thine  eyes  a  look  .  .  ." 

"  But  thoughtest  thou  to  find  love  in  these  eyes  ? 
They  have  looked  upon  thy  deed  of  treachery." 

"  Thou  wrongest  me,  Hyrcanus !  " 

As  he  smiled  his  quiet  derision,  she  stretched  out  with 
a  supplicating  gesture  her  delicate  blue-veined  palms. 

"  Oh,  thou  cruelly  wrongest  me !  It  was  not  I ! 
May  all  the  high  heaven-dwellers  bear  me  witness,  it 
was  not  I  who  brought  the  Roman  swords  upon  thee ! " 

"  Thine  own  northern  spearsmen  —  most  like  thou 
didst  but  send  them  forth  to  market." 

"  Nay,  by  the  living  God  I  swear,  I  sent  them  to 
thine  aid!  Thy  messenger  brought  me  the  token,  and 
before  ever  the  shock  of  battle  rang  on  the  air  I 
gathered  quickly  mine  armed  men.  I  summoned  my 
captains.  My  heart  was  consumed  with  fear!  Hyr- 
canus !  Thou  imaginedst  not  that  I,  a  timorous 
woman,  might  myself  lead  them  into  the  battle!  But 
to  the  captain  of  my  guard,  to  Larsa,  I  spake  bidding 
him  make  haste  and  fall  upon  the  Romans  and  rescue 
thee.  Ah,  God!  I  know  not  how  it  came  to  pass! 


182  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

If  Larsa  being  deaf  mistook  my  words  or  was  bought 
with  Roman  gold,  I  know  not !  In  thy  preservation  my 
heart  was  locked  as  a  dove  in  a  cage!  I  climbed  upon 
the  housetop  to  watch !  And  when  I  saw  how  that  thou 
wast  overcome,  I  fell  as  one  palsied !  Ah,  Hyrcanus,  if 
thou  wouldst  but  believe!  For  days  I  lay  and  bedewed 
my  bed  with  tears!  I  called  upon  thy  name  ten  thou- 
sand times  in  the  night!  I  mourned  .  .  ." 

Wonderfully  she  pleaded  with  liquid  voice  and 
stretched  out  her  white  hands. 

But  he  glancing  past  her  saw  in  the  mirror  which 
hung  on  the  tent-pole  what  a  fate  she  designed  for  him. 
She  had  made  some  signal  to  Abaddon.  The  tent-flap 
was  softly  unpinned.  The  huge  eunuch  was  creeping 
in  like  a  shadow  to  cleave  him  from  behind. 

Hyrcanus  leaped  suddenly  aside. 

The  broad-bladed  scimetar  swooped  down  through 
empty  space. 

Ere  Salome  could  move  or  cry  out,  Abaddon's  great, 
black,  shining  body  bounded  on  the  rug  before  her, 
stabbed  once  in  the  hollow  of  the  throat  and  twice 
through  the  heart.  He  stretched  out  his  shivering  limbs 
and  died  with  scarce  a  groan.  His  blood  gushed  over 
her  white  gown. 

The  slayer  coolly  wiped  his  wet  knife  on  the  dead 
man's  tunic. 

"  Thy  false  words,  Salome,  may  lure  others  to  death," 
said  he,  "  but  never  again  Hyrcanus." 

Despair  had  stupefied  her  faculties.  The  bloom  of 
her  cheek  had  perished  in  grey  ash,  terror  had  ruined 
the  flowerlike  face.  As  the  eunuch  struck,  missed,  and 


BETHANY  183 

died  before  her,  she  only  opened  wide  her  mouth  and 
gasped.  Perhaps  Hyrcanus's  unaccountable  avoidance 
of  this  destruction  which  she  had  purposed  for  him, 
confirmed  her  first  belief  in  his  supernatural  presence. 
Her  eyes  followed  his  movements  afterwards  with  a 
cowed  look. 

But  when  he  arose  and  laid  his  blood-wet  fingers  on 
her  naked  shoulder,  she  shuddered  and  tried  at  last  to 
shriek. 

He  choked  the  sound  back  into  her  throat  so  that  her 
eyes  protruded.  She  struggled  a  moment  in  his  grasp 
like  a  hen,  and  swooned. 

Using  her  own  many-stranded  girdle  he  bound  her 
wrists  and  ankles,  stuffed  her  scarf  into  her  mouth, 
rolled  her  limp  body  into  a  rug,  shouldered  it,  and  went 
boldly  forth. 

He  went  through  the  sleeping  attendants  and  out  at 
the  tent-door.  Traversing  the  camp  not  far  from  the 
smouldering  fire,  he  bent  low  under  his  burden.  The 
drowsy  watch  sat  and  saw  him  pass  and  thought  it 
only  some  slave  sent  upon  a  task.  A  dog  which 
scented  the  fresh  blood  on  the  rug  sprang  eagerly 
after  and  whined. 

The  stooped  figure,  followed  by  the  dog,  disappeared 
amid  the  shadowy  humps  of  the  kneeling  camels. 

Meantime  down  in  the  gorge  of  Jabbok  Nadab  had 
long  waited.  As  the  wild  beasts  crept  nearer,  he  fed 
the  fire  bits  of  the  dry  driftwood.  Often  he  went  and 
peered  through  the  opening  between  the  rocks ;  and 
once,  taking  a  lighted  fagot  for  protection,  he  even  ven- 
tured out  and  climbed  up  the  bank  to  look  across  the 


184-  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

desert.  The  moon,  magnified  by  nearness  to  the  earth, 
was  just  then  rising.  Its  yellow  rim  already  paled  the 
glory  of  the  stars.  All  the  wild  voices  of  the  night 
saluted  it  in  dismal  antiphonal  chorus. 

The  mute  retreated  to  the  cavern  and  squatted  again 
before  the  fire.  Although  the  night  was  cold,  sweat 
glistened  on  his  swarthy  face. 

A  dislodged  stone  rolled  down  the  steep  and  plunged 
into  the  water.  Nadab  sprang  to  his  feet. 

Outside  was  heard  a  footfall,  and  Hyrcanus  strode  in 
between  the  rocks. 

A  guttural  cry  of  gladness  broke  from  the  tongueless 
lips. 

"  Thy  hour  of  triumph  is  come,"  said  Hyrcanus. 
He  cast  the  roll  of  carpet  down  at  Nadab's  feet  and 
thrust  into  his  left  hand  the  dagger.  "  Take  thou  this 
also,"  said  he.  And  he  went  back  to  the  edge  of  the 
firelight,  beside  the  narrow  entrance,  and  sat  upon  a 
stone  there,  looking  fixedly  at  the  sand  between  his  feet, 
and  tracing  lines  in  it  with  his  finger. 

Nadab's  one  eye  rolled  and  flickered  wildly  in  the 
firelight.  He  glared  first  at  Hyrcanus,  then  at  the  roll 
of  carpet,  then  at  the  dagger,  which  still  wore  a  few 
stains.  His  knees  began  to  knock  together.  His 
maimed  arm  wiped  from  his  forehead  the  dripping 
sweat. 

At  last,  like  one  afraid,  he  stooped  and  with  timid 
fingers  pulled  aside  the  rug. 

Salome's  unbound  hair  had  spread  its  dark  curtain 
over  her  face  and  bosom.  He  lifted  it  away  strand  by 
strand,  released  her  mouth  from  the  muffling  cloth,  and 


BETHANY  185 

looked  upon  the  death-white  face  of  the  royal  daughter 
of  Herodias.  Seeing  the  blood  on  her  dress  he  got  up 
quickly,  shrinking  from  the  sight. 

But  then  her  breast  heaved;  a  deep  sigh  hissed  be- 
tween her  parted  lips.  The  cold  air,  the  dance  of  the 
firelight  on  her  eyelids,  ended  her  swoon.  Life  rushed 
back  into  her. 

Moaning  she  opened  her  eyes  and  beheld  the  base 
camel-driver  whom  she  had  mutilated.  She  saw  the 
blade  gleaming  in  his  hands.  She  struggled  partly 
up  in  spite  of  her  bonds  and  fell  forward  on  her  hands 
and  knees. 

*'  Have  mercy !  "  she  wailed  in  a  shrill  voice. 

This  proud  woman,  the  descendant  of  kings,  cast 
herself  at  the  feet  of  the  despised  freedman.  She 
would  have  kissed  them  had  he  not  stepped  quickly  back 
a  pace. 

"  Pity  me !  Pity  me ! "  she  implored  again  and 
again. 

As  he  still  retired  before  her,  she,  striving  still  to 
reach  his  feet,  dragged  her  tender  limbs  over  the  sharp 
stones.  Her  dishevelled  black  hair,  which  poured  down 
on  either  side  like  ropes,  caught  under  her  crawling 
knees.  With  a  long  tremulous  cry  of  despair  she  fell 
forward  on  her  face,  bruised  and  helpless. 

Nadab  bent  quickly.  The  blade  flashed  at  its  work, 
and  her  bonds,  severed  at  wrists  and  ankles,  fell  from 
her. 

It  was  some  moments  before  she  comprehended  that 
her  limbs  were  free.  She  lifted  her  amazed  head  and 
slowly  stood  up.  Nadab  strained  with  grotesque  work- 


186  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

ings  of  his  face  to  say  something  to  her.  From  his 
throat  issued  a  gabble  of  noises.  He  beckoned,  pointed 
toward  the  door  of  the  cavern,  and  motioned  furtively 
for  her  to  flee.  At  the  same  time  he  sought  to  interpose 
his  own  body  between  her  and  Hyrcanus  that  her  flight 
might  be  concealed. 

But  although  Hyrcanus  sat  and  pored  gloomily  on 
the  ground  all  the  while  as  if  he  observed  nothing,  he 
stretched  out  his  foot  across  the  only  path  of  escape. 

Thrice  the  woman  crept  fearfully  forward,  and  thrice 
cowered  back  as  he  bent  over  and  traced  lines  in  the 
sand  with  his  forefinger. 

She  saw  her  helplessness  to  pass  him,  and  prostrated 
herself,  weeping.  The  mute  came  too  and  knelt  ab- 
jectly, adding  his  prayers  to  hers. 

Hyrcanus  smoothed  out  with  his  foot  the  lines  he  had 
hitherto  traced  in  the  sand.  He  frowned  and  after  a 
moment  wrote  again.  One  might  have  thought  him 
ignorant  that  those  two  suppliants  knelt  before  him. 
In  the  sand  his  finger  wrote, — 

"  As  thou  wouldst  that  others  should  do  to  thee." 

At  last  he  lifted  his  head  and  looked  at  Salome. 
The  veins  above  his  eyebrows,  darkened  and  swollen, 
stood  out  like  whipcords. 

"  Go,"  he  said  hoarsely.  "  If  this  wretch  that  thou 
hast  injured  granteth  thee  thy  life, —  I  —  I  also  will 
be  not  less  generous, —  for  the  sake  of  mine  own  pride 
.  .  .  But  go  quickly,  lest  I  repent ! " 


VI 

IT  was  early  evening  in  the  green  and  pleasant  land 
of  Galilee.  Hyrcanus  sat  by  the  roadside  on  the 
heights  above  Tiberias.  The  soft  twilight  af- 
forded a  view  of  the  white-walled  city  far  below  which 
Herod  Antipas  the  Tetrarch  had  built  in  architectural 
flattery  of  Cassar.  Beyond,  the  Sea  of  Gennesaret 
spread  its  wrinkling  waters  glassy  green,  framed  like  a 
world-mirror  within  darkling  hills  and  a  white  strip  of 
beach. 

The  sun  had  sunk.  On  the  rose-pink  sky  impercep- 
tibly shading  off  into  grey  and  green,  peeped  out  every 
minute  new  yellow  stars  like  dandelions  springing  in  a 
field. 

Gradually  the  sky  turned  a  bluer  green.  Against  it 
the  massed  vineyards  appeared  black,  the  olive  gardens 
silver.  Down  on  the  lake  the  lanterns  of  fishing-boats 
which  clustered  about  the  harbour  began  to  twinkle 
ruddily.  Peace  reigned  everywhere.  A  distant  bleat- 
ing was  heard  from  sheep  and  goats  that  wended  home- 
ward. Oxen  newly  unyoked  from  the  plough  lowed. 

Nadab  had  gone  down  into  the  city  to  procure  food. 
Hyrcanus  waited  his  return.  He  sat  on  a  stone  under 
a  fig  tree. 

As  he  rested,  a  group  of  men  numbering  seven  came 

down   the   crooked  road   in   the   rough  garb   of  vine- 

187 


188  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

dressers.  The  pruning  knives  at  their  girdles  were 
meant  to  indicate  that  they  were  going  home  from  the 
day's  honest  labour.  But  they  glanced  warily  about 
them  with  an  air  half  insolent  half  slinking,  like  that  of 
foxes. 

They  were  in  fact  a  band  of  common  thieves  in  quest 
of  plunder. 

They  perceived  Hyrcanus  seated  alone  by  the  way- 
side and  exchanged  quick  looks  and  smiles  with  one 
another,  full  of  significance.  The  foremost  pair  went 
aside  to  observe  him  more  closely,  for  it  had  been  grow- 
ing dark  and  he  was  obscured  by  the  shadow  of  the  tree. 
One  asked  him  a  question  about  the  weather.  But 
when  they  saw  how  poor  and  travel-stained  was  his 
cloak  and  how  worn  and  frayed  his  sandals,  and  when 
moreover  he  lifted  his  eyes  at  them  with  a  formidable 
look,  grasping  his  stout  staff,  they  rejoined  the  others. 
The  seven  stopped,  spoke  together  in  low  tones,  and 
finally  continued  on  down  the  road,  laughing. 

Soon  the  curving  hillside  shut  in  behind  the  last  of 
them. 

A  minute  later  the  breeze  which  poured  up  from  the 
lake  bore  to  Hyrcanus's  ears  a  woman's  frightened 
cry, — 

"Barjona!     Simon  Bar jona!     Save!" 

Hyrcanus  started  up  from  his  meditation  stricken 
through  with  an  incredulous  surprise.  The  words  and 
voice  rang  in  his  heart  like  an  alarm-bell  and  roused 
a  throng  of  memories.  It  was  evening  again  in  Elul 
by  the  Pool  of  Siloam  under  the  walls  of  Jerusalem. 
The  slender  maid  whose  pitcher  he  had  broken  was 


BETHANY  189 

fleeing  before  him  down  the  dark  valley  into  the  shadows 
of  Gehenna. 

Again  the  clear  cry  rang  out, — 

"Barjona!  Barjona!  Where  art  thou,  Simon! 
Save ! " 

But  mingled  with  it  now  was  the  voice  of  another 
woman  calling  likewise  for  help.  The  illusion  was 
shattered  like  a  glass.  Hyrcanus  seized  his  staff  and 
sped  down  the  road. 

He  swung  around  the  hill  into  the  midst  of  the 
scuffle.  The  band  of  thieves  had  laid  hold  of  two 
women  and  in  spite  of  their  outcries  and  frantic  resist- 
ance were  attempting  to  drag  them  over  a  stone  fence 
into  a  wayside  field,  there  to  use  their  will  upon  them. 

As  the  women  struggled  and  implored,  the  ruffians 
mocked, — 

"  How,  Mary  ?  Ref usest  corban  to  thine  old  cus- 
tomers of  Magdala?  Hast  thou  no  gratitude  for  all 
the  trade  we  brought  thee  in  former  times?  Ha,  ha! 
And  this  pretty  dove,  too !  .  .  ." 

In  the  dim  dusk  Hyrcanus  plunged  among  them  like 
a  thunderbolt  hurled  from  the  sky.  The  staff  whistled. 
One  fellow  rolled  into  the  weeds  with  a  head  cracked. 
Another  stretched  over  the  stone-wall,  limp  as  a  piece 
of  cloth. 

The  rest  released  the  women  and  leaped  back  in 
dismay.  But  discovering  that  they  were  assailed  by 
only  one  man,  they  plucked  out  their  sharp  pruning 
knives  and  sprang  at  him,  cursing  and  inciting  each 
other. 

As  a  wolf  snaps  among  a  pack  of  dogs,  Hyrcanus 


190  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

leaped  this  way  and  that,  smiting  in  silence.  Wherever 
he  struck  he  made  a  howl  of  pain  respond.  The  five 
thieves  could  not  reach  him  with  their  knives,  although 
they  slashed  his  garments  in  many  places. 

Suddenly  the  two  women  set  up  a  cry  that  travellers 
were  coming. 

Disconcerted,  the  thieves  paused  a  moment.  Hyr- 
canus  lengthened  his  weapon  by  a  swift  shift,  drove  the 
end  of  it  into  the  face  of  one,  breaking  his  nose  and 
ripping  open  his  cheek,  and  whirled  at  another  so  as 
to  send  his  knife  flying.  With  that  they  turned  as  by 
one  consent  and  fled. 

Hyrcanus  leaned  upon  his  staff,  panting.  His 
strength  was  not  yet  fully  recovered  from  his  long  ill- 
ness, and  weakness  rushed  upon  him.  The  hills  rocked 
before  his  eyes,  stars  danced,  a  roaring  sounded  in  his 
ears.  But  while  he  halted  thus,  giddy  with  past  ex- 
ertion, he  saw  nevertheless  that  the  smaller  and  younger 
of  the  two  women  let  fall  a  big  stone  which  she  had 
bravely  picked  up  to  cast  at  the  thieves,  and  came  to- 
wards him. 

"  Nay,  it  is  not  Barjona! "  said  the  larger  and  elder, 
behind  her.  "  Never  could  Simon  have  so  leaped  and 
laid  about  him." 

The  girl  advanced  timidly  in  the  late  twilight. 

"  An  angel  from  on  high  did  send  thee,"  said  she  in 
a  soft,  sweet  voice  which  Hyrcanus  remembered. 

"  Valiant  man,"  said  the  elder  woman  also,  "  thou 
hast  rescued  this  little  maid  from  those  that  would  have 
wrought  wickedness  upon  her.  Art  thou  of  Tiberias? 
Or  whither  may  we  send  on  the  morrow  and  thank  thee  ? 


BETHANY  191 

"  We  have  neither  silver  nor  gold,"  said  the  girl,  see- 
ing that  he  breathed  heavily  and  did  not  answer.  "  How 
may  we  repay  thee !  "  She  drew  nearer  to  observe  his 
face,  which  his  arm  upon  the  staff  concealed.  "  Hast 
thou  suffered  wounds  from  their  knives  ?  " 

"  Bernice !  "  he  cried  hoarsely. 

He  could  no  longer  restrain  himself,  caught  sudden 
hold  of  her,  and  strained  her  with  violence  to  his  breast. 

Recognising  him,  she  shrieked  out  and  began  pite- 
ously  to  beg. 

"  Oh !  Oh !  Cruel  one !  Fierce  Hyrcanus  !  It  is 
thou !  Thou  hast  rescued  me  from  others  only  to  make 
me  thine  own  prey !  " 

But  he  had  fallen  down  before  her  and  clasped  her 
knees. 

"  I  am  thy  slave  —  thy  miserable  slave  forever !  As 
the  dust  of  thy  feet  am  I !  More  than  glory  or  gold 
or  all  the  kingdoms  of  earth  art  thou  to  me !  Bernice ! 
Rather  would  I  be  the  sandal  beneath  thy  foot  than 
victor  over  Roman  legions !  Strangle  me  now  with 
cords  if  it  be  not  altogether  as  I  say !  Bernice !  Ber- 
nice! Hear  me!  Thou  art  my  bright  morning  star! 
Without  thee  life  is  on  my  back  as  a  heavy  load !  " 

Bernice  trembled  much,  striving  continually  to  push 
him  from  her. 

"  Wouldst  thou  return  evil  for  good  ?  Wicked  Hyr- 
canus !  Me  who  saved  thee  from  Roman  spears  wouldst 
thou  now  carry  off  by  violence  to  thy  robber  den !  " 

"  Stick  those  spears  into  me  like  quills  if  I  bear  thee 
off  by  violence !  Yet  will  I  perish  of  despair  if  I  have 
thee  not ! " 


192  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"  Oh,  thou  strong,  hasty  man  of  blood !  But  thou 
wilt  not  take  me  by  violence?  " 

"  I  am  not  as  in  former  days.  I  have  dwelt  at 
Bethany.  I  have  learnt  somewhat.  And  though  de- 
sires slay  me,  yet  will  I  not  by  violence !  " 

"  Thou  sayest  this  as  a  promise?  " 

"Yea,  by  God's  throne!" 

She  laughed  softly  with  relief. 

"  Promise  me  by  this."  Stooping  down  she  drew  in 
the  dust  that  symbol  which  she  had  used  at  Siloam. 

"  A  fish ! "  he  exclaimed.  "  Yea,  I  covenant  by  fish 
or  fowl  or  beast  or  serpent  or  whatsoever  thou  wilt! 
But  how  comes  it  to  pass  that  thou  employest  a  living 
image?  Art  thou  then  numbered  amongst  the  lowly  of 
the  eranoi?  " 

"  It  is   the  sign   of  the  new  kingdom." 

The  stricken  thief  who  had  hung  across  the  stone 
wall  got  his  feet  under  him  and  scrambled  off  into  the 
darkness.  Hyrcanus  would  have  pursued  and  slain  him, 
but  Bernice  clung  to  his  cloak. 

"  Nay,  let  the  man  live !  "  she  cried.  "  Thou  takest 
life !  —  canst  thou  give  it  again  ?  All  thy  years  hast 
thou  trod  in  blood  as  in  a  wine-press.  This  right  hand 
of  thine  hath  shed  too  much  blood  already."  Neverthe- 
less she  lifted  it  to  her  lips.  "  Nay,  it  hath  rescued 
Mary  and  me,"  she  said.  "  It  cannot  be  altogether 
evil." 

Her  fears  had  passed,  since  his  promise.  She,  who 
was  still  half  child  half  woman,  smiled  up  into  his  dark 
face. 

"  Changed  art  thou ! "  she  said,  widening  her  eyes. 


BETHANY  193 

"  So  wonderfully  art  thou  changed !  And  thin !  And 
even  taller!  Barjona  brought  back  but  a  grain  of 
truth  concerning  thee  .  .  .  We  go  to  Magdala,  Mary 
and  I.  There  was  Mary  born,  and  there  she  dwelt  ere 
ever  she  sinned  and  went  down  to  Jerusalem.  And 
there  she  hath  still  a  little  house.  And  Simon  Barjona 
cometh  not  to  meet  us  on  this  hill,  as  he  had  said.  Per- 
haps Simon  is  let  ...  But  thou  earnest,  Hyrcanus. 
The  thieves  beset  us  round  about,  but  thou  wast  a  lion 
leaping  upon  them.  Glad  am  I  that  it  was  thou  who 
earnest.  How  strange  that  I  should  say  —  should  say 
that  I  was  glad  because  Hyrcanus  came ! "  And  she 
ended  in  soft  laughter. 

"  Bernice !  "  he  groaned.  '*  Go  with  me  into  the 
hills !  "  And  he  pointed  across  the  lake. 

Dismay  overcame  her  again :  "  Oh,  that  may  never 
be!" 

"  Hast  thou  forgot,  Bernice,  how  that  thy  father 
designed  thee  unto  me  for  wife  ?  " 

"  He  sought  but  power  over  thee.  And  now  is  that 
all  ended.  Now  cometh  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
Such  a  marriage  is  not  of  heaven." 

"  Not  of  heaven !     What  meanest  thou  ?  " 

"  Moreover,  thou  art  of  kingly  birth,  of  a  race  that 
ever  seeketh  dominion.  Thou  wilt  take  unto  thee  many 
wives." 

"  Nay." 

"  Thou  knowest  I  speak  truth !  It  is  thus  the  princes 
of  earth  strengthen  themselves, —  by  ties  of  kinship. 
Little  do  I  know  of  such  matters,  being  but  a  woman  and 
having  but  faith.  Yet  have  I  asked, —  and  Barjona 


194  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

hath  said  —  he  hath  said  that  a  man  shall  cleave  unto 
his  one  wife.  So  hath  it  ever  been  among  the  poor." 

"May  thunderbolts  rend  thy  Barjona!"  exclaimed 
Hyrcanus  fiercely.  "  He  heapeth  up  vain  words !  But 
hear  me  now,  Bernice.  If  for  reasons  of  state  I  must 
hereafter  choose  out  unto  me  other  wives,  they  shall 
be  but  as  shadows  attending  the  brightness  of  thy 
glory." 

"  Oh !  "     She  put  up  her  hands  to  repel  the  thought. 

"  I  swear  by  my  father's  beard !  I  will  make  thee 
such  a  queen !  For  thee  I  will  conquer  kingdoms !  I  will 
seat  thee  on  a  throne  of  gold  and  spread  all  the  earth 
as  a  rug  for  thy  feet!  Ah,  my  love,  my  love!  I  will 
give  not  back  for  Caesar  or  the  roar  of  Rome.  The 
swelling  of  this  heart  will  break  down  the  walls  of  cities 
and  crush  thousands.  Come  unto  me,  my  love !  With- 
out thee  my  life  is  as  precious  wine  spilt  on  the 
sand!" 

He  stretched  out  his  arms  to  her,  but  she  drew  back. 

"Would  I  bring  such  destruction  on  the  world?  0 
monster!  What  need  have  I  of  a  golden  throne  while 
others  lack  for  bread!  I  should  be  ever  thinking  of 
the  tears  it  cost !  And  .  .  .  and  for  thine  other  wives. 
.  .  .  Proud  may  I  be,  Hyrcanus, —  proud  and  selfish, — 
yet  would  I  not  share  my  husband's  little  finger  with 
another  woman ! " 

"  Nay  then !  "  he  cried  vehemently.  "  None  other 
shall  be !  None  but  thou !  And  for  the  kingdom  — 
if  thou  desire  it  not,  I  toss  it  away !  "  He  made  as  if 
he  dashed  something  invisible  on  the  ground.  "  Thee 
I  will  have !  All  else  is  dust  and  ashes  I  " 


BETHANY  195 

But  there  the  Magdalene,  a  tall,  haggard  woman,  came 
closer  to  them  and  pointed  down  the  road. 

"  One  lurketh  yonder  in  the  shadows.  I  thought  it 
was  Simon  Barjona,  but  .  .  ." 

"  Fear  not,"  said  Hyrcanus,  peering.  "  It  is  one 
that  is  my  friend.  He  too  hath  caught  some  spark  of 
that  teaching  of  a  new  kingdom."  And  he  called  Nadab 
by  name. 

The  mute  ran  forward  bringing  the  provisions  which 
he  had  gone  to  procure.  By  signs  he  indicated  a  dan- 
ger. There  began  to  be  heard  below  a  noise  of  a  numer- 
ous company  of  people  and  animals  ascending. 

It  was  necessary  to  depart. 

"Barjona  cometh  not,"  said  Bernice.  "His  wife  is 
sick,  and  that  perhaps  hath  stayed  him.  But  how  may 
we,  being  women,  go  alone  in  the  night  to  Magdala? 
We  must  return  and  procure  one  to  accompany  us." 

"  Nay,  it  is  I  and  no  other  man  that  will  accompany 
thee!"  cried  Hyrcanus  with  jealousy. 

She  put  her  hand  in  his  and  walked  by  his  side,  meas- 
uring her  steps  to  his.  They  went  over  the  hills 
along  the  lake,  followed  by  Mary  Magdalene  and  the 
mute. 

There  was  only  starlight;  the  moon  was  not  yet  up. 
Innumerable  stars  flashed  boldly  forth  like  lamps.  Each 
rolling  planet  gleamed  more  brightly  than  a  winter's 
moon.  All  the  hollow  of  heaven  was  a  riot  of  contesting 
glories,  while  the  wide  water  below  glittered  like  another 
heaven  inverted. 

The  dim  white  road  twined  between  gardens  of  olives 
that  stood  like  groups  of  dun  ghosts  against  the  darker 


196  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

vineyards.  From  neighbouring  sheepfolds  sounded 
faint  bleatings  and  the  vigilant  bark  of  sheep-dogs. 
Slumber  rested  upon  the  world. 

As  Hyrcanus  and  Bernice  walked  hand  in  hand, 
breathing  the  odour  of  wild  thyme,  she  spoke  of  many 
things,  not  without  gaiety,  but  of  the  one  thing  which 
he  wished  she  would  not  speak. 

They  descended  at  last  towards  the  environs  of  the 
little  fishing-village  of  Magdala,  and  stopped  at  a  stone 
cottage  fenced  about  by  a  broken  hedge.  Mary 
Magdalene  entered  the  dark,  empty  house  to  light  a 
candle;  but  Bernice  stayed  at  the  door,  for  Hyrcanus 
held  her. 

"  Thou  givest  me  no  answer,"  he  said.  "  And  now 
must  this  door  shut  between  us.  At  daybreak  I  will  be 
far  away.  Who  knoweth  when  I  shall  see  thee  again !  " 

She  was  silent  a  while. 

"  Time  hath  erased  many  words  of  love, —  and  it  may 
be  that  thine  .  .  ." 

"  Never !  "  he  declared  passionately. 

"  But  if  so  be  thou  incline  yet  unto  me  hereafter  — 
nay !  put  not  thy  face  so  near !  —  if  thou  wilt  seek  me 
at  the  Passover  .  .  ." 

"  The  Passover !  Four  moons  must  grow  old  and 
die  ere  the  great  Feast !  And  Barabbas  lieth  in  chains ! 
And  meantime  I  have  that  to  do  that  asketh  lives  — 
perchance  mine  own." 

She  pulled  loose  from  him  on  a  swift  impulse  of 
horror. 

"  What  new  deed  of  blood  hast  thou  in  mind !  Art 
thou  never  sated!  How  much  blood  of  thy  brethren 


BETHANY  197 

hast  thou  already  shed !  Thou  breathest  blood,  blood  — ' 
always  blood  and  slaughter !  I  am  sick  of  murders." 

"  Never  the  blood  of  brethren !  "  he  indignantly  pro- 
tested. "  Never  hath  this  hand  been  wet  with  a  brother's 
blood!" 

But  Bernice  grew  more  and  more  excited. 

"  Thou  speakest  boastingly  of  murders !  And  our 
kurios  saith  all  men  are  brethren." 

"  Those  I  design  to  slay  are  the  blood-lapping  Ro- 
man dogs." 

"  Bestial  is  thy  mind, —  as  thy  deeds !  On  that  dark 
hill  thou  beholdest  there  —  on  that  hill,  so  hath  Simon 
Barjona  said  and  others  also,  stood  up  our  Jeurios  Jesus 
and  proclaimed  all  men  to  be  brethren,  for  one  is  our 
father,  even  God." 

"Not  Samaritans!" 

"  Yea, —  and  Romans !  " 

"  How  then  may  I  set  Barabbas  free  but  by  the 
sword  ?  "  he  asked  gloomily. 

"  Barabbas !  —  who  hath  slain  his  hundreds  already ! 
Thou  wouldst  slay  men  to  set  him  free  that  he  may  slay 
other  hundreds  ?  Nay,  I  tell  thee  this,  Hyrcanus ! " 
she  cried,  swept  beyond  all  reason  by  a  torrent  of  in- 
dignant emotion.  "  If  thou  shed  the  blood  of  any  man 
henceforth  for  Barabbas'  sake, —  never  will  I  look  upon 
thy  face  again !  " 

He  leaned  against  a  tree  beside  the  door.  A  dense 
shadow  lay  about  him  there.  It  was  impossible  for  her 
to  perceive  the  effect  of  her  words  upon  him.  But 
when  he  spoke  again,  a  threatening  change  sounded  in 
his  voice. 


198  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"  Thou  givest  me  words  of  the  Nazarene  carpenter 
who  proclaimeth  laws  for  his  new  kingdom.  Hear  me, 
Bernice.  The  deed  which  I  design,  that  carpenter  hath 
himself  confirmed  my  purpose  in.  Out  of  his  own  mouth 
he  said  it.  In  a  cave  in  the  gorge  of  Cherith,  by  night, 
when  we  were  alone  together,  he  confirmed  my  resolu- 
tion." 

"  That  may  not  be ! "  she  exclaimed  aghast,  retreat- 
ing into  the  doorway.  "  Thou  art  as  some  barbarous 
Scythian  who  takes  the  sacred  vessels  from  the  Temple 
to  misuse  them !  If  thou  do  murder,  thou  shalt  be  cast 
into  outer  darkness !  " 

"  Drive  me  not  to  despair,  Bernice.  I  must  do  this 
deed." 

"  Thou  mockest  me !     Cruel  bloody  heart !  " 

"  I  mock  not." 

"  Say  then  by  yea  or  nay,  thou  wilt  shed  man's  blood 
no  more." 

"  Bernice !  Bernice !  Thou  asketh  that  thou  know- 
est  not!  Thou  art  but  woman.  Wouldst  make  of  me 
a  slinking  dog  for  men  to  spit  upon  ?  Wouldst  have  me 
betray  the  life  of  my  friend?  " 

But  the  girl  was  deaf  to  the  appeal. 

"  Promise  me  this !  "  she  demanded.  "  Or  I  trample 
thy  love  under  my  foot  as  a  thing  unclean ! " 

Groaning,  he  seized  his  temples  and  glared  about  him. 
The  dreadful  look  of  his  fiery  eyes  in  the  dark  terrified 
her.  She  pushed  shut  the  door  quickly  and  barred  it. 
She  was  barely  in  time. 

"  Never ! "  he  screamed  in  an  unrecognisable  voice, 
harsh  and  menacing  as  the  cry  of  a  wolf.  "  Never  will 


BETHANY  199 

I  promise !  I  will  not !  Though  I  suffer  the  pangs  of 
hell  forever,  I  will  not!  Where  is  that  mad  carpenter 
who  hath  bewitched  thee!  Let  him  show  me  another 
way !  Let  him  save  Barabbas  without  blood ! "  He 
flung  himself  against  the  barred  door  and  beat  upon 
it  with  his  fists  while  Bernice  listened  breathlessly  in- 
side. "  Let  the  carpenter  appear !  "  he  roared.  "  Let 
him  save  Barabbas,  then!  Else  will  I  pitch  him  and 
all  his  mad  teachings  into  the  fires  of  Gehenna ! " 

He  raged  out  his  rage  until  it  left  him  speechless. 
And  afterwards  he  would  have  still  remained  on  the 
doorstep.  But  Nadab,  who  had  perceived  the  ap- 
proach of  neighbours,  came  and  pulled  him  by  the  hand 
and  drew  him  away. 


PART  THREE 
THE  PASSOVER 


THE  seventh  winter  of  Pontius  Pilate's  procura- 
torship  brought  dark  foreboding  upon  all  Judea. 
Everywhere,  not  only  in  Judea  but  northward 
in  Samaria  and  Galilee  and  westward  along  the  Phoeni- 
cian coast,  spread  a  vague  sense  of  impending  change. 
The  imaginations  of  the  people  grew  big  with  hope  or 
dread.  They  began  to  discover  portents  in  the  stars, 
in  the  aspects  of  clouds,  in  the  flight  of  birds. 

Wars  and  famines  were  predicted  from  an  untimely 
growth  upon  the  fig  trees  and  abortive  births  among  the 
flocks. 

The  yeast  of  discontent  was  everywhere  at  work 
among  the  poor. 

A  long  drought,  followed  by  floods,  had  left 
the  common  people  wellnigh  destitute.  Their  sub- 
stance was  devoured  by  usurers.  At  some  places 
resistance  was  offered  to  the  tax-gatherers.  The  High- 
priest's  servants  under  Malchus,  who  collected  the  tithes 
from  threshing-floors  and  vineyards,  had  often  to  wrest 
them  away  by  force.  The  hordes  of  slaves  with  which 
the  Roman  conquests  had  flooded  the  markets  of  the 

201 


202  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

world  had  borne  down  the  wages  of  free  labourers  and 
left  many  idle.  Even  the  small  landholders  who  la- 
boured on  their  own  land  could  obtain  no  more  than  a 
bare  existence. 

The  ignorant  and  oppressed  laid  their  troubles  to 
various  supernatural  causes.  They  flocked  together 
and  listened  greedily  to  whoever  arose  and  proposed 
some  measure  of  relief. 

It  was  inevitable  at  such  a  time  that  the  old  legend  of 
a  divine  deliverer  coming  to  bring  justice  and  happiness 
to  the  earth  —  that  despairing  prayer  of  the  downtrod- 
den of  all  ages  and  lands  —  should  be  revived.  Ancient 
prophecies  of  the  Messiah  renewed  their  appeal  to  the 
imaginations  of  the  lowly  as  in  the  turbulent  days  of 
Judas  of  Gamala. 

Meantime,  east  of  Jordan  the  robber  bands  ranged 
almost  at  will.  Twice  that  winter,  on  the  route  between 
Babylon  and  the  coast,  they  swooped  down  upon  the 
huge  armed  caravans  of  John  of  Petra. 

It  was  repeatedly  declared  that  Hyrcanus  had  escaped 
alive  out  of  the  sedition  at  Jerusalem,  although  re- 
ported slain,  and  was  dwelling  in  a  community  of  Es- 
senes  on  the  borders  of  Gadara.  This  rumour  was 
believed  by  some  and  rejected  by  others.  But  the  ter- 
ror of  his  name  had  ceased.  His  following  in  Jerusalem 
and  Judea  had  been  entirely  crushed.  The  Pharisees, 
the  party  of  the  prosperous,  who  acquiesced  in  the  over- 
lordship  of  Rome,  appreciating  the  opportunities  for 
commercial  enterprise  which  an  international  peace  af- 
forded, enlarged  their  pride  and  pretensions  on  every 
side. 


THE  PASSOVER  203 

Thus  the  affairs  of  the  kingdom  stood  as  the  time  of 
the  Passover  drew  near.  Tiberius  Caesar  had  not  yet 
appointed  a  king  to  the  Judean  throne.  Herod's  great 
white  palace  on  Zion  still  stood  vacant,  although  a 
swarm  of  greedy  aspirants  besieged  the  villa  of  the  em- 
peror at  Capri.  Perhaps  Caesar's  delay  was  due  to  the 
political  craft  of  Annas  and  the  powerful  middle-class 
which  he  represented. 

The  great  national  festival,  assembling  the  multitude 
to  the  number  of  several  millions  in  and  about  Jerusalem, 
filled  the  rulers  always  with  keen  apprehension. 

It  was  at  the  Passover  that  revolts  against  the  gov- 
erning powers  usually  broke  out.  That  was  the  most 
opportune  time  to  overthrow  the  established  rule  and 
sweep  away  all  law  and  authority.  It  needed  but  an 
infectious  rallying-cry  to  lift  the  huge  multitude  against 
its  masters  like  a  stormy  sea.  Innovators  realised  this 
also,  and  at  such  times  most  eagerly  sought  to  spread 
their  doctrines. 

The  Roman  governor,  alert  to  the  danger  from  past 
experience,  always  strongly  reinforced  the  garrison  at 
Jerusalem  about  the  first  of  the  month  Nisan,  and  him- 
self repaired  thither  with  pomp  of  brass-clad  legionaries 
and  axe-bearing  lictors,  for  the  trial  of  criminals.  This 
extraordinary  display  of  military  force  and  stern  exe- 
cution of  imperial  justice  was  designed  to  overawe  any 
popular  discontent.  Barabbas'  trial  was  delayed  on 
that  account. 

The  great  pilgrimage  up  to  the  Holy  City  that  year 
from  all  parts  of  Palestine  began  before  the  barley  had 
ripened  for  harvest.  Raw,  cold,  wet  winter  was  past. 


204  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

In  the  air  was  the  whistle  of  birds  —  tiny  bluebirds 
alighting  on  curved  blades  of  grass,  crested  larks  that 
flitted  about  the  feet  of  the  traveller,  grave,  modest 
storks,  and  everywhere  graceful  turtle-doves.  The 
fields  foamed  with  those  bright  daisies  called,  since  then, 
the  white  star  of  Bethlehem,  with  scarlet  poppies, 
anemones,  lilies.  On  the  soft  winds  butterflies  drifted 
like  winged  blossoms,  gorgeous,  delicate.  Around  the 
hilltop-villages  sheep  and  kine  grazed  in  the  fresh 
meadows  of  grass. 

Great  companies  of  pilgrims  began  to  go  up  to  Jeru- 
salem with  songs  and  shoutings,  as  if  no  misery  or 
oppression  dwelt  in  the  land.  Tens  of  thousands  of 
those  from  the  north  country  crossed  east  of  Jordan  to 
avoid  the  half-hostile,  despised  Samaritans.  They 
marched  over  the  sterile  hills  and  burning  plain  to 
Bethabara. 

Emboldened  by  numbers  they  braved  the  region  of 
robbers  with  various  rude  weapons,  attired  in  gay 
tribal  colours,  heartening  the  way  by  songs  to  which 
were  added  the  clashing  of  cymbals  and  piping  of  flutes. 

They  were  glad  when  they  emerged  from  the  rugged 
defiles.  The  first  sight  of  Jordan  drew  from  all  an 
exultant  shout.  At  Bethabara  they  disported  them- 
selves like  children,  running,  playing,  calling  from  bank 
to  bank,  laughing,  and  bathing,  while  the  pack-animals 
splashed  and  waded  through  the  ford. 

Amid  this  joyous  tumult  strangers  could  join  the 
innumerable  bands  of  pilgrims  unheeded. 

It  was  the  sixth  day  of  Nisan,  an  hour  before  the 
noon  heat.  Two  travellers  in  scarlet-bordered  grey  caps 


THE  PASSOVER  205 

and  cloaks  which  betokened  them  to  be  Babylonian 
Jews  descended  from  a  near-by  clump  of  feathery  tam- 
arisks. One  was  leading  a  small  ringstraked  ass  laden 
with  provision. 

They  quietly  crossed  the  river  into  Judea. 

He  who  led  the  ass  had  suffered  the  loss  of  an  eye 
and  hand,  but  his  remaining  eye  darted  over  the  varie- 
gated scene  with  a  keen  look  not  devoid  of  mirth. 

A  covert  sign  called  his  companion's  attention  to 
something  as  they  stood  wringing  the  water  from  the 
skirts  of  their  garments.  That  other,  tall  and  straight 
and  sinewy,  resembling  more  a  young  Arab  sheik  than 
the  peaceful  Babylonian  merchant  his  garb  proclaimed, 
nodded. 

"  It  is  well,  Nadab,"  said  he  in  a  low  voice.  "  Four 
score  and  ten  have  crossed  and  mingled  among  the  pil- 
grims. Now  cometh  old  Phalec  with  the  last  troop, 
every  man  clad  like  unto  a  shepherd  of  Perea  and  hav- 
ing his  sword  hid  under  his  cloak.  Give  no  signal, — 
he  seeth  us.  Let  us  make  haste  and  depart." 

But  after  going  up  a  short  distance  from  the  river, 
he  stopped  and  laid  his  hand  on  the  mute's  shoulder. 

"  Yonder  I  perceive,  Nadab,  a  great  number  of  Gali- 
leans wearing  the  red  garments  of  the  lowly.  Watch 
thou.  I  too  will  watch.  The  maiden  may  be  somewhere 
amongst  them.  It  cometh  to  my  mind  that  she  would 
walk  a  little  apart  from  the  others,  with  that  elder 
woman.  If  thou  seest  her,  speak  quickly." 

The  Galileans  moved  over  the  white  chalk -plain  to- 
wards the  distant  palms  of  Jericho  in  a  great  cheerful, 
disorderly  company.  Smooth-lipped  youths  and  black- 


206  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

beards  trudged  with  bundles,  goatskin  bottles,  and 
staves.  The  younger  women  and  the  middle-aged  walked 
beside  them  sharing  their  burdens ;  but  the  older  women 
and  the  white-bearded  patriarchs  sat  upon  the  asses  and 
camels  and  held  the  babies.  The  half -grown  children 
frisked  noisily  along  the  roadside  with  the  dogs. 

Hyrcanus  leaned  upon  his  staff  and  scanned  the 
faces  that  passed.  Many  of  the  Galileans  wondering  at 
the  intent  eyes  of  the  Babylonian  stranger  saluted 
him. 

"  He  seeketh  a  lost  kinsman,"  they  said  among  them- 
selves. Several  inquired  of  him  his  name  and  whom 
he  sought. 

"  Kur  the  son  of  Caleb  am  I  called,"  he  said  briefly. 
"  I  am  a  stranger  in  the  land  of  my  fathers." 

When  all  the  throng  had  gone  by,  he  turned  sadly  to 
his  silent  companion. 

"  Ever  this  reaching  out, —  ever  these  empty  hands ! 
Thou  wouldst  not  believe,  Nadab,  how  ill  it  is  here  at 
my  heart.  God  knoweth  if  she  be  still  amongst  the 
living ! "  He  stood  a  while,  then  struck  his  clenched 
hand  upon  his  breast,  frowning.  "  What  though  it 
were  vouchsafed  me  to  look  upon  her  face  again!  It 
would  avail  me  naught.  My  purpose  is  hung  as  a  front- 
let between  mine  eyes.  Gird  up  thy  loins,  my  friend ;  — 
we  must  journey  far  beyond  Jericho  ere  nightfall." 

They  turned  into  one  of  the  less  travelled  by-paths. 
The  little  ass  was  nimble;  they  proceeded  much  more 
quickly  than  the  crowds  of  stuff-encumbered  pilgrims. 
Soon  they  reached  the  cultivated  fields,  where  the  way 
was  cooled  by  overspreading  fronds  of  date-palms. 


THE  PASSOVER  207 

After  a  short  halt  for  refreshment,  they  pressed  forward 
and  in  the  cool  of  the  day  arrived  at  Jericho. 

The  pleasant  city  which  Cleopatra  had  once  sunned 
with  her  sinful  beauty  and  where  great  Herod  had  died, 
was  on  the  direct  route  of  travel  from  the  East  to 
Jerusalem.  It  was  now  flooded  with  crowds  that  had 
halted  there  a  while  on  their  way  up  to  the  Feast. 

The  white  streets  were  aswarm.  Rustics  laid  off 
their  clumsy  bundles  in  the  shade  of  classic  buildings, 
rested  under  the  balsamodendrons  or  scented  shrubs,  and 
cooled  their  parched,  dusty  feet  in  the  flashing  fountains 
that  poured  from  the  King's  Baths.  Under  the  cool 
Portico  of  Herod  and  on  the  steps  of  the  ivory  House 
of  Cleopatra  loitered  hundreds.  And  ever  more  and 
more  flowed  in  at  the  tower-capped  city-gates,  a  noisy 
rabble  of  men,  women,  children,  camels,  asses,  dogs. 

It  was  a  multitude  made  up  chiefly  of  artisans  and 
field-workers.  As  Hyrcanus  and  Nadab  penetrated  into 
the  city,  they  found  on  all  sides  the  red  Galilean  scarves. 
Whichever  way  the  eye  turned,  it  was  filled  with  patches 
of  glowing  colour  never  quiet,  like  beds  of  poppies  in  a 
wind-raked  meadow.  The  westering  sun  blazed  behind 
the  tall  marble  columns  of  the  Temple  of  Zeus  and  cast 
long  purple  shadows  down  the  street. 

Hyrcanus  noted  the  expressions  on  the  faces  of  the 
people. 

"  Some  strange  thing  is  about  to  come  to  pass,"  said 
he,  and  drew  Nadab  a  little  aside  out  of  the  press.  "  Let 
us  watch." 

They  waited  in  the  shade  under  a  high  wall. 

The   crowds   had  begun  to  block   the  narrow   way. 


208  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

Many  heads  looked  down  from  the  housetops.  On  all 
faces  appeared  a  fixed  expectancy.  Some  men  and  boys 
had  climbed  up  into  a  leafy  sycamore  the  better  to  see 
over  the  people.  One  of  them,  a  fat,  bald,  little  man, 
hung  far  out  from  a  limb  peering  towards  the  Bethabara 
Gate  at  the  foot  of  the  street.  Voices  here  and  there 
called  up  to  him. 

"  Look  again,  Zacchaeus !  .  .  .  Discernest  thou 
naught  ?  .  .  .  Who  entereth  now  ?  " 

The  little  man  continually  shook  his  head,  crying 
down, — 

"  Naught,  naught  .  .  .  Wait !  —  lo  1  .  .  .  Nay,  it 
was  but  some  woman  who  fell  in  the  way  before  a  camel. 
She  is  up  now, —  they  shake  her  garments  laughing. 
But  soon  —  soon  he  cometh!  Oh,  blessed  hour!" 

Other  voices  meanwhile,  at  Hyrcanus's  elbow,  began 
to  grumble  at  the  conduct  of  the  little  man: 

"  But  what  a  hypocrite !  Zacchaeus  would  have  us  to 
believe  that  zeal  burneth  him  up." 

u  Is  ft  not  this  same  zealous  one  that  collects  the 
tax?" 

"  He  hath  prospered  by  grinding  the  faces  of  the 
poor.  Yet  now  he  shouteth  for  the  new  kingdom  louder 
than  any ! " 

"  He  hopes  perhaps  to  obtain  a  fat  office  under  the 
new  kingdom  also." 

Some  one  mildly  defended  the  object  of  their  cen- 
sure,— 

"  Wherefore  art  thou  so  severe  against  him,  my  Bar- 
sabas?  Soughtest  thou  not  that  office  thyself  vainly 
in  former  days  ?  " 


THE  PASSOVER  209 

"  That  was  ere  ever  there  was  talk  of  this  new  king- 
dom!" 

"  But  Zacchaeus  hath  laboured  day  and  night  for  the 
new  kingdom.  Here  in  Jericho  hath  he  drawn  many 
unto  it.  And  if  he  helpeth  to  bring  the  better  things 
of  the  new  kingdom,  what  blame  if  he  have  lived  well 
under  the  old?  " 

Another  voice,  a  woman's,  chimed  in, — 

"  More  honour  unto  Zacchseus,  say  I,  for  that  his 
riches  have  not  hardened  his  heart ! " 

"  That  thou,  I,  and  Demas  here  should  be  for  the 
new  kingdom  I  see  clearly ! "  exclaimed  the  man  called 
Barsabas.  "  Naught  have  we  to  lose  but  our  chains. 
This  fat  Zacchaeus  however  .  .  ." 

"  Ah,  thou  seest  but  the  loaves  and  fishes ! "  said 
Demas. 

"  I  see  a  liar  also !  " 

"  Hath  not  the  kurios  oft  rebuked  just  that  spirit 
in  thee?  Zacchaeus  might  well  endure  the  present  rule. 
Yet  he  thinketh  not  of  himself  but  of  the  wrongs  of  the 
poor.  Thou  thinkest  but  of  thine  own." 

"  Blind  mouth!  Who  made  Demas  to  be  a  judge  in 
Israel!" 

"  Nay,  Barsabas,"  cried  the  other  warmly,  "  what  art 
thou  but  a  dog  that  growls  over  a  feast  at  everyone 
although  there  is  enough  for  all?  " 

"  A  dog  am  I  ?  I  spit  upon  thee !  Who  was  thy 
father!" 

The  disputants  became  enraged.  Their  tones  grew 
shrill  and  high.  They  gesticulated  in  the  frantic  Ori- 
ental fashion,  clawing  the  air.  They  shook  their  out- 


210  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

spread  fingers  under  each  other's  noses.  Every  instant 
they  seemed  about  to  fall  to  blows. 

In  the  midst  of  the  dispute  Zacchasus  cried  out  and  was 
seen  pointing  towards  the  gate.  His  cry  re-echoed  from 
lip  to  lip.  The  angry  words  perished  at  once,  forgot- 
ten. Everyone  stood  atiptoe,  straining  to  see  over  in- 
tervening heads.  A  deep  murmur  like  a  swarming  of 
bees  hummed  along  the  dense  throngs.  Presently  a  pro- 
longed uproar,  a  noise  of  acclamation,  began  at  the 
Bethabara  Gate  and  rolled  like  a  wave  the  length  of  the 
street. 

A  commotion  of  some  sort  was  visible  advancing 
slowly. 

After  a  while  it  could  be  seen  that  a  group  of  newly 
arrived  pilgrims  was  trying  to  push  forward.  They 
were  greeted  by  enthusiastic  salutations  and  their  prog- 
ress continually  interrupted  by  people  who,  too  impa- 
tient, too  curious,  rushed  in  and  jammed  the  way.  From 
the  housetops  many  red  scarves  and  banners  of  the 
eranoi  were  being  waved. 

And  now  Hyrcanus,  being  taller  than  those  before 
him,  perceived  the  cause  of  the  excitement.  A  group 
of  persons,  both  men  and  women,  travel-stained  and 
dusty,  were  trying  to  proceed  through  the  joyous  tumult. 
Their  smiling  faces  were  soiled  and  wet  with  perspira- 
tion. Conspicuous  amongst  them  shone  the  shaggy  red 
head  and  beard  and  sunburnt  visage  of  Simon  Barjona. 

But  there  walked  one  whose  face,  discerned  amid  the 
tossing  crowd,  held  the  eye  like  a  calm  star  shining  amid 
a  thunderstorm. 


THE  PASSOVER  211 

He  walked  with  that  droop  of  the  thin  shoulders  which 
came  of  toil  at  the  carpenter's  bench.  He  had  the  stiff 
unelastic  tread  of  the  labourer,  the  bearer  of  burdens. 
Furrows  of  old  effort  creased  his  sunburnt  forehead. 
In  years  he  was  between  thirty  and  forty,  which  among 
the  labouring  class  was  middle  age.  His  eyes,  large, 
dark,  and  strangely  luminous,  rested  upon  the  thronging 
faces  about  him  with  a  mild  gladness. 

This  slight,  dark-bearded  man,  prematurely  bent,  was 
the  proscribed  carpenter  of  Nazareth,  the  leader  of  the 
movement  to  set  up  a  new  kingdom. 

As  Jesus  drew  near  and  perceived  Zacchseus  in  the 
sycamore  tree,  he  beckoned  him  to  come  down  and  spoke 
some  words  to  him.  The  fat  little  tax-gatherer  de- 
scended joyously,  pushed  through  the  by-standers,  and 
opened  the  door  of  a  house  that  stood  across  the  way. 

It  was  apparent  at  once  to  all  that  the  Jcurios  had 
conferred  upon  Zacchaeus  the  special  distinction  of  enter- 
taining him  and  his  immediate  followers.  A  grumbling 
murmur  spread.  Protests  sounded  on  every  side  against 
this  unpopular  choice.  Loudest  rose  the  voice  of  Bar- 
sabas : 

"  Doth  the  Jcurios  become  the  guest  of  this  sinner !  — 
this  tax-grasper!  He  picketh  out  his  favourites  from 
amongst  the  rich  ones  that  prey  upon  the  poor!  In  the 
new  kingdom  shall  men  like  unto  Zacchasus  be  given  the 
high  places  ?  " 

Jesus  turned  at  the  threshold  of  the  publican's  house 
to  confront  this  swelling  clamour  of  disapproval.  He 
stood  on  the  steps,  elevated  a  little  above  the  crowd,  and 


THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

it  could  be  seen  that  his  large,  brown,  tool-distorted  hand 
rested  upon  the  head  of  some  child  beside  him.  Around 
the  foot  of  the  steps  clustered  his  chosen  band  of  men 
and  women,  wedged  in  by  the  forward-pressing  multi- 
tude. 

He  began  to  speak.  At  first  the  exclamations  around 
drowned  out  his  voice.  But  as  his  lips  were  seen  to  be 
moving,  people  cried  "  Hush ! "  They  thrust  one  an- 
other with  their  elbows  for  silence.  They  stood  on  tip- 
toe, craning  their  necks.  Swiftly  an  intent  quiet  pre- 
vailed. 

That  incomparable  voice,  clear,  simple,  probing 
straight  to  the  truth  of  the  heart  and  mind  like  a  law 
of  nature,  reached  out  over  the  crowd  farther  and 
farther.  Its  spell  descended  upon  them. 

He  employed  a  parable,  as  was  his  wont,  to  explain 
why  on  his  triumphal  return  to  Jericho  he  was  conferring 
this  special  mark  of  favour  upon  the  unpopular  but 
zealous  Zacchseus. 

The  parable  was  of  a  nobleman  who  on  his  departure 
into  a  far  country  to  obtain  a  kingdom  had  entrusted 
to  each  of  his  servants  whom  he  left  in  charge  of  his 
local  affairs  a  mina  of  silver,  saying  "  Keep  busy  12  till 
I  come." 

By  this  time  all  ears  were  straining  to  hear  the  tale. 
The  allusion  was  plain  enough.  There  was  no  groping 
by  these  simple  working  people  after  some  mystical  in- 
terpretation for  it.  Was  not  Jesus  the  nobleman  who 
had  departed  on  the  affairs  of  the  new  kingdom?  Had 
he  not  left  the  work  at  Jericho  in  the  charge  of  his  fol- 
lowers there? 


THE  PASSOVER  213 

The  words  of  Jesus  had  now  become  clearly  audible. 
He  employed  occasional  quiet  gestures,  a  lifting  of  those 
brown  tool-marked  hands. 

"  But  the  citizens  of  the  place  hated  him  and  sent  a 
message  after  him,  saying,  *  We  will  not  have  this  man  to 
reign  over  us.'  And  it  came  to  pass  that  when  he  re- 
turned having  obtained  the  kingdom,  he  commanded 
those  servants  to  be  called  unto  him  to  whom  he  had 
given  the  money,  that  he  might  know  how  much  every 
man  had  gained  by  trading. 

"  Then  came  the  first,  saying,  *  Kurios,  thy  mina 
hath  gained  ten  minae.'  And  he  said  unto  him,  *  Well, 
thou  good  servant.  Because  thou  hast  been  faithful  in 
a  very  little,  have  thou  authority  over  ten  cities.' 

"  And  the  second  came,  saying,  '  Kurios,  thy  mina 
hath  gained  five  mvnae.'  And  he  said  likewise  to  him, 
*  Be  thou  also  over  five  cities.' " 

Carrying  the  simple  narrative  to  its  conclusion,  the 
teacher  showed  thereby  the  wisdom  and  justice  of  ap- 
pointing his  helpers  to  positions  of  authority  in  the 
new  kingdom  according  to  the  zeal  and  ability  they  had 
demonstrated  beforehand  in  the  good  cause.  And  long 
before  he  had  ended,  his  auditors  were  nodding  one  to 
another. 

"Lo,  he  hath  heard  how  that  Zacchaeus  laboured  here 
in  Jericho  for  the  new  kingdom  both  by  day  and  night 
and  hath  brought  ten  converts  unto  us." 

"  Ten?  By  this  head,  that  little  Zacchams  hath  per- 
suaded three  score  men  and  women!  Oft  have  I  seen 
him  go  by  my  shop  at  evening  to  discourse  with  them 
that  work  at  the  potteries !  " 


THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"  Nay,  they  that  have  laboured  most  for  the  new 
kingdom  should  indeed  obtain  the  preferment ! " 

"  See  now,  Barsabas !  In  the  new  kingdom  honours 
will  be  apportioned  according  to  service.  What  service 
hast  thou  rendered?  " 

«  Hold  thy  peace !  " 

Meantime  the  carpenter  had  gone  into  the  house  of 
Zacchaeus. 

A  number  of  men  were  seen  to  follow  him,  headed  by 
red  Simon  Barjona,  and  also  a  few  women,  perhaps  half 
a  dozen.  These  ascended  by  ones  and  twos  above  the 
crowd,  quickly  mounted  the  steps,  and  disappeared 
within  the  open  doorway.  Last  of  all  went  up  the  tall, 
pale  Magdalene. 

"  Lo,  Nadab ! "  cried  Hyrcanus  in  a  stifled  voice. 
"  Beside  her  entereth  also  a  smaller  woman,  her  face  half 
hidden  by  the  white  kerchief.  She  turns  ...  It  is! 
It  is  .  .  ." 

He  made  as  if  to  rush  forward  through  the  people, 
but  restrained  himself. 

"  Let  us  be  gone !  "  he  said.  "  My  sins  have  found 
me  out." 


II 

HYRCANUS  beckoned  to  Nadab,  and  the  two 
went  quickly  down  a  by-lane,  leading  the  laden 
ass.  They  went  through  another  street  to  the 
Jerusalem  Gate  and  pushed  on  past  rich  suburban  gar- 
dens of  pomegranates  and  figs. 

On  the  hillside  a  little  to  the  west  of  Jericho  a  large 
khan  had  been  built  for  the  accommodation  of  travellers, 
which  was  over-full  at  that  time.  Hundreds  of  pilgrims 
had  stabled  their  pack-animals  and  pegged  out  their 
black  tents  of  skins  in  the  neighbouring  fields.  They 
had  kindled  fires  and  were  clustered  about  them  in 
throngs  preparing  the  evening  meal  or  eating  or  loiter- 
ing hither  and  thither  under  the  yellow  flush  of  sunset. 

It  was  not  the  purpose  of  Hyrcanus  to  halt  at  the 
khan.  The  shades  of  evening  found  him  climbing  a 
steep  path  into  the  darkling  barren  mountains. 

Night  fell,  but  still  he  strode  onward  with  unabated 
vigour.  In  his  preoccupation  of  mind  he  might  have 
journeyed  till  morning,  had  not  Nadab  plucked  at  his 
cloak  and  directed  his  attention  to  the  ass,  which  drooped 
its  ears  dejectedly  and  began  to  drag  backward  upon 
the  halter. 

"  What  meanest  thou !  "  said  Hyrcanus,  starting  out 
of  a  reverie.  "Oh, —  the  little  beast?  —  it  asketh 
mercy."  And  he  looked  about  him  for  somewhere  to 

pass  the  night. 

215 


216  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

He  chose  presently  a  tiny  glade  at  some  distance 
from  the  path,  carpeted  with  verdure.  Rock-roses 
bloomed  in  the  crannied  wall  of  cliffs.  The  two  men 
watered  and  fed  the  ass,  ate  their  own  meal  of  dates  and 
bread,  wrapped  their  cloaks  about  them,  and  lay  down 
to  sleep. 

Nadab  slumbered  soon,  breathing  heavily. 

But  Hyrcanus  could  not  sleep.  He  lay  upon  his 
back  and  looked  up  at  the  stars  which  gleamed  far  and 
cold  above  the  black  mountain-peaks.  The  innumerable 
flowers  perfumed  the  air.  An  incense  of  gladness 
seemed  to  descend  from  them  upon  the  falling  dew. 

A  good  ways  off  on  the  main  road  he  heard  the  noise 
of  multitudes  still  ascending  the  rocky  passes  towards 
the  heights.  As  they  toiled  impetuously  upward  and 
onward  towards  Zion,  they  filled  the  wilderness  with  loud 
shemas  and  hosannas. 

Intermingled  with  the  triumphal  chanting  of  infinite 
voices  were  audible  at  times  a  clashing  of  brazen  cym- 
bals, the  shrill  tootle  of  flutes,  and  the  strumming  of 
many-stringed  instruments. 

This  immense  volume  of  sounds  rolled  on  and  on 
through  the  night  with  a  vastness  and  endlessness  that 
were  awe-inspiring.  It  seemed  that  all  the  earth,  its 
nations,  peoples,  and  tongues,  was  pouring  like  a  deluge 
upon  the  Holy  City. 

After  much  listening, — 

"  What  am  I,"  murmured  Hyrcanus,  "  but  a  pebble 
in  the  hand  of  God,  to  be  flung  whithersoever  he  will! 
Yea, —  and  Bernice  also !  " 

And  he  turned  upon  his  side  and  slept. 


THE  PASSOVER  217 

In  the  dusk  of  dawn  the  two  wayfarers  arose,  par- 
took of  food,  tied  the  pack  upon  the  ass,  and  continued 
their  journey. 

They  used  the  time  diligently,  and  late  in  the  after- 
noon descended  the  evening  slopes  of  the  desolate  moun- 
tains towards  Bethany. 

Preparations  for  the  great  national  Feast  had  already 
transformed  the  environs  of  Jerusalem.  Mizpeh,  Olivet, 
Gibeon,  and  the  wide  plain  of  Rephaim  were  mushroomed 
with  tents,  the  hasty  growth  of  the  hour.  Everywhere 
clustered  green  booths,  wattled  of  twigs  and  leaves, 
called  succoth.  Multitudinous  heaps  of  baggage  lit- 
tered the  ground.  The  landscape  seethed  with  myriads 
of  men,  women,  children,  sheep,  goats,  camels,  and 
asses.  The  lepers  had  been  driven  back  into  the  region 
of  tombs  along  the  Cedron. 

New  crowds  of  pilgrims  continually  poured  in  by 
every  path,  trudging  afoot  with  staff  and  bundle,  or 
mounted  on  animals.  They  bore  green  fronds  of  palm 
and  branches  of  myrtle  plucked  from  wayside  trees. 
Dust-clouds  on  the  horizon  marked  the  approach  of 
yet  other  thousands. 

Streams  from  the  east,  north,  and  south  met  at 
Bethany,  which  seemed  to  be  submerged  by  these  joyous 
invaders.  They  mingled  shouting  and  singing,  in  an 
enormous  confusion;  but  each  group  wore  its  tribal 
colours,  and  among  the  vivid  stripings  of  green,  crimson, 
white,  and  azure,  a  constant  coagulation  was  going  on. 

More  tents,  more  wattled  booths,  continually  arose. 
Innumerable  women  and  girls  were  hurrying  to  and  from 
Siloam  or  Enrogel  with  bottles  and  jars.  Thousands 


218  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

upon  thousands  of  cooking-fires  had  been  kindled  in  the 
fields.  Threads  of  smoke  twisted  up.  It  was  as  if  the 
whole  world  smouldered,  ready  to  burst  into  huge  con- 
flagration. 

The  Galileans  had  been  wont  from  immemorial  times  to 
pitch  their  tents  on  the  ridge  of  Olivet  north  of  the 
upper  road.  Here  the  foliaged  slope  appeared  from 
afar  like  an  ant-hill  swarming  with  red  ants.  As  Hyr- 
canus  and  Nadab  drew  nearer,  they  found  the  men, 
women,  boys,  and  girls  all  furiously  at  work  erecting 
the  temporary  habitations.  For  it  was  the  seventh 
day  of  Nisan.  At  sunset  the  Sabbath  would  begin. 

Hyrcanus's  present  mission  at  Jerusalem  required 
secrecy.  He  did  not  enter  Bethany  to  revisit  his  humble 
friends  there,  but  went  by  the  upper  road  over  the 
Mount  of  Olives. 

He  came  over  the  brow  of  the  hill  not  far  from  those 
two  giant  cedars  at  the  top,  whose  branches  served  for 
an  asylum  to  clouds  of  doves. 

Of  a  sudden  he  beheld  again  the  scene  of  his  over- 
throw. 

Dead  events  poured  vividly  back  upon  his  mind,  and 
he  stood  lost  in  despair,  gnawing  his  hands.  The  sight 
of  the  far-flung  white  palaces  of  the  Upper  City  beyond 
the  Temple,  still  shining  in  the  last  rays  of  the  sun, 
filled  him  with  a  poignant  anguish. 

But  then  quickly,  he  knew  not  how,  all  grief  was  dried 
out  of  his  soul  as  if  a  strong  wind  had  blown  through  it. 
He  gazed  about  him  overwhelmed  by  awe,  like  one  whose 
private  sorrows  are  suddenly  extinguished  and  forgotten 
in  a  great  cataclysm  of  nature. 


THE  PASSOVER  219 

It  was  a  world  of  tents.  Israel  had  come  up  like  a 
flood  about  Jerusalem.  The  men  of  Hebron  lay  on  the 
plain  of  Rephaim.  The  hosts  of  Sharon  swarmed  upon 
Mount  Gibeon.  The  lines  and  groups  of  the  vast 
encampment  could  be  followed  down  the  valley  of 
Gihon,  covering  the  low  land  about  Siloam,  speckling 
the  grand  masses  of  hill  from  Olivet  to  Mispeh,  and 
trespassing  even  upon  the  Mount  of  Offence.  A  nation 
was  gathered  there  by  millions  in  an  amphitheatre  fitted 
for  the  enactment  of  a  world-drama,  a  tragedy  of 
the  ages. 

While  Hyrcanus  watched,  the  sun  went  down.  A 
sonorous  trumpet  pealed  from  the  Temple.  The  Sab- 
bath had  begun. 

It  put  a  period  to  the  huge  hum  of  industry.  Under 
the  diaphanous  amber  light  of  evening  all  the  world 
ceased  from  toil  and  became  silent.  Only  in  the  courts 
of  the  Temple  the  activity  of  business  still  continued, 
the  changing  of  money,  the  selling  of  cattle,  sheep,  and 
fowls  for  sacrifice ;  —  only  in  the  Temple  there  was 
no  Sabbath. 

Hyrcanus  looked  down  across  the  darkening  vale 
of  Jehoshaphat  into  the  Temple  area;  and  long  after- 
wards that  scene  remained  in  his  mind's  eye  with  a 
peculiar  distinctness. 

He  saw  the  white-robed  people  walking  by  twos  and 
threes  through  the  paved  courts  and  pillared  porches. 
There  was  the  outer  or  gentile  court,  of  general  traffic, 
with  what  was  styled  Solomon's  Porch.  Behind  and 
above  it  ascended  the  successive  inner  courts  in  graceful 
colonnades,  stairs,  and  chambers  of  terraced  marble, 


220  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

till  at  the  top,  with  front  and  cressets  of  burnished  gold, 
soared  the  Holy  of  Holies. 

Below  this  magnificent  masonry  of  Herod  fell  the 
scarp  of  Mount  Moriah,  a  prodigious  breast  of  wall, 
abrupt  and  deep,  down  into  the  sombre  valley.  That 
dark  vale  beneath,  whose  grey  rock  was  shaped  into  in- 
numerable cold  tombs,  lurked  at  the  foot  of  the  Temple 
like  a  curse.  It  was  death's  blot  upon  the  aspirations 
of  man.  No  living  thing  seemed  to  dwell  therein ;  even 
the  quick  birds  steered  over  it  in  silent  fear. 

A  mile  to  the  south  the  river-bed  opened  and 
brightened  around  Siloam  and  the  ruined  tower.  Imme- 
diately north  of  the  Temple  frowned  the  squat,  square 
citadel  of  Antonia,  with  a  Roman  sentry  on  the  turret. 

Behind  this  imposing  stretch  of  foreground  spread 
the  wide  undulation  of  house-clad  hills.  The  saffron 
afterglow  illuminated  the  white  flat  houses  and  the 
gaudy  pavilions  erected  on  their  tops. 

Hyrcanus  gazed  long  upon  the  scene. 

"  Verily  the  city  is  arrayed  as  a  bride  for  her  bride- 
groom," he  said  aloud  at  last,  and  turned  and  beckoned 
to  the  mute. 

They  descended  the  slope  of  Olivet,  passed  through 
the  plantation  of  figs  called  Bethphage,  and  entered 
Jerusalem  by  the  Horse  Gate  south  of  the  Temple. 

Traversing  the  priests'  prosperous  quarter  called 
Ophel,  they  made  their  way  to  a  humble  inn  not  far  from 
the  great  bridge  over  the  Xystus,  which  was  kept  by  a 
Greek,  Demetrius  by  name. 

Accommodation  had  been  purchased  here  many  days 
in  advance  for  Kur  the  Babylonian  and  his  friend. 


THE  PASSOVER  221 

They  had  but  to  make  themselves  known  to  have  their 
wants  speedily  supplied. 

The  inn  was  crowded  with  guests  who  had  come  up 
to  the  feast.  They  swarmed  about  the  inn-yard ;  and 
among  them  were  noticeable  certain  swarthy  men,  at- 
tired some  as  sheep-dealers  of  Perea,  some  as  caravan- 
guards,  who  marked  keenly  the  entrance  of  Hyrcanus 
and  on  various  pretexts  came  forward  to  salute  him. 

These  were  of  that  chosen  band  with  whose  help  Hyr- 
canus designed  to  rescue  Barabbas.  But  for  the  present 
he  could  only  bid  them  wait  and  watch. 

On  the  morrow  until  sunset  the  observance  of  the 
Sabbath  held  the  great  orthodox  multitude  within  doors. 
The  streets  were  deserted  save  by  the  beggars,  who,  an 
incredible  horde,  howled  on.  They  dragged  their 
maimed  limbs  and  sores  past  the  shut  houses  of  the 
pious  and  rich,  lifting  the  shrill,  terrible,  eternal  scream 
for  alms.  This  dreary  sound  alone  pervaded  the  day 
of  the  Lord. 

At  sunset  the  ban  was  lifted,  the  people  poured  forth 
into  the  streets  and  market-places,  and  the  ordinary 
cries  of  crowded  busy  traffic  resumed. 

Hyrcanus  left  his  inn  at  this  hour  and  visited  certain 
places  in  the  Upper  and  Lower  Cities  where  lodging  had 
been  provided  for  small,  separate  parties  of  his  men. 
When  he  had  completed  this  round  of  inspection,  the 
second  watch  had  sounded.  He  returned  towards  his 
own  quarters. 

The  night  was  clear  but  dark,  with  light,  variable 
winds.  The  slender  sickle  of  the  new  moon  hung  low 
over  Rephaim.  Broad  shadows  spread  from  the  house- 


222  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

tops.  Hyrcanus  walked  slowly,  his  mind  firm  and  braced 
like  a  harness  for  war,  but  troubled  by  gloomy  appre- 
hensions. He  followed  a  narrow  lane,  scarcely  noting 
his  surroundings,  till  a  mass  of  Cyclopean  stonework 
blocked  the  way.  Then  he  looked  up  in  surprise  and 
saw  that  he  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  lofty  Temple  wall. 

He  stared  upward,  and  a  mysterious  sense  of  its 
power  oppressed  him.  This  huge  foundation  of  the 
Mosaic  Law,  marked  by  the  Tyrean  bevel,  which  had 
withstood  the  storms  of  centuries,  seemed  established  for 
all  the  future  ages.  It  was  incredible  that  it  could  ever 
be  overturned. 

In  the  dim  light  he  looked  about  him.  He  was  in  a 
wretched  neighbourhood,  a  neglected  huddle  of  squalor 
and  want,  over  which  the  enormous  Temple,  stony  and 
sublime,  aspiring  to  the  heavens,  cast  its  blighting 
shadow.  A  thought,  vague,  unshaped,  somehow  took 
hold  of  him.  He  felt  that  a  day  of  retribution  was  at 
hand.  Something  ominous  haunted  the  air.  The 
winds,  which  were  caught  and  repelled  by  the  mighty 
wall  of  stonework,  hung  breathless  here  as  if  awaiting  an 
event. 

It  was  an  unendurable  sensation.  He  hastened  to  re- 
trace his  steps,  and  coming  sharply  out  of  the  lane  into 
a  broader  street  that  was  lighted  by  the  moon,  brushed 
against  a  small,  old  woman  just  around  the  corner.  She 
had  shrunk  vainly  against  the  house. 

"  Nay,  mother,  I  designed  no  harm  unto  thee,"  he 
said,  and  stopped. 

The  woman  trembling  sought  to  hide  behind  her  some 
large  article. 


Her  face,  thinned  and  furrowed  with  the  premature 
age  of  the  poor,  became  visible  in  the  moonlight  as  she 
peered  up  at  him,  blinking  wistfully,  half  reassured  by 
his  kind  words. 

"  What  f earest  thou  ?  "  he  asked,  perceiving  that  she 
wore  the  rustic  garb  of  a  Galilean  villager. 

"  I  fear  thieves,  lord,"  she  stammered.  "  A  most 
honest  personage  is  my  lord!  I  see  that  now  as  mine 
own  thumb!  Yet  there  be  a  many  thieves  abroad 
nights,  they  say.  And  I  be  a  stranger  from  the  north 
country  and  lost  in  these  dark  streets  that  run  so 
crooked  in  and  out  like  worm-tracks  in  old  wood." 

"  What  hidest  thou,  mother,  with  such  anxious  care 
behind  thee?  " 

She  gave  a  great  start. 

"  Oh,  my  lord,  it  is  but  a  coat !  " 

"Why  hide  it  then?" 

"  It  is  my  son's  new  coat,  an  my  lord  please.  Yea, 
the  work  of  mine  own  fingers  —  every  stitch.  And  of 
the  best  wool  of  Esdraelon  too !  None  better  is  to  be 
bought  with  money."  Pride  struggled  a  moment 
against  her  caution  and  overcame  it.  She  spread  out 
the  garment,  holding  it  up  in  the  moonlight.  "  May  it 
please  my  lord  to  look  now, —  for  I  perceive  my  lord  is 
an  honest  man.  Not  one  seam  will  he  find  —  not  a 
one ! "  Her  work-shrivelled  claw  smoothed  down  the 
folds.  "  Nay,  search  as  my  lord  will, —  not  a  seam ! 
Every  stitch,  too,  the  work  of  mine  own  fingers. 
Never  a  grander  coat  will  be  seen  among  all  the  chief 
priests  at  the  festival !  See  now  here  how  it  is  hemmed, 
—  being  tucked  under  a  full  two  fingers'  breadth !  All 


THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

the  best  Galilean  fleece!  Late  I  wrought  with  my 
needle  .  .  ." 

"Is  thy  son  a  priest?"  exclaimed  Hyrcanus,  in- 
terrupting the  flow  of  her  simple  garrulity. 

"  Oh,  no,  my  lord !  A  carpenter  is  my  son.  We 
are  of  Nazareth  in  Galilee, —  a  mean  town,  my  lord 
knoweth.  Joseph  my  husband  did  follow  the  car- 
penter's trade  at  Nazareth, —  ere  ever  these  hard  times 
befell.  And  I,  Mary,  his  wife  was  expert  with  my 
needle  .  .  .  Only  now  mine  eyes  grow  duller,  close  by, 
thus ;  —  farther  off  —  thus  —  I  see  yet  clearly,  God  be 
thanked!  Thou  wouldst  marvel  how  clearly!  Even 
by  candlelight  I  see  to  thread  my  needle  .  .  ." 

"  Where  thinkest  thou  to  find  thy  son  at  such  an 
hour?" 

A  look  of  doubt  touched  the  old  childlike  eyes. 

"  Nay,  Annas  and  they  that  are  in  authority  are 
filled  with  ire  against  my  son.  It  was  —  it  was,  me- 
thinks,  because  of  some  foolish  speeches  .  .  .  Nay,  and 
I  ...  and  I  ...  My  lord  may  not  perchance  be  of 
the  new  kingdom  ?  " 

Hyrcanus  struck  his  hand  upon  his  breast. 

"  As  God  liveth,  I  know  not  how  to  be  of  that  new 
kingdom,  little  mother!  Yet  do  I  not  contemn  it." 

"  I  perceive  my  lord  designeth  not  evil,"  said  the 
little  woman  eagerly.  "  And  if  my  lord  would  but  set 
my  feet  in  the  way  unto  the  hill  of  the  Galileans !  — 
nay,  I  sewed  so  late  upon  the  coat !  And  these  streets ! 
They  are  as  threads  tangled  in  the  weaving.  Hasten- 
ing I  lost  my  ways  among  them.  It  is  so  dark!  The 
moon  is  gone  down  almost !  And  so  many  thieves !  " 


THE  PASSOVER  225 

"  Have  no  fear,  little  mother.  I  will  guide  thee 
across  the  dark  valley,  where  thou  mayest  then  con- 
tinue on  in  peace  to  find  thy  son." 

"  God  is  good  to  me !  I  will  tell  my  son  how  that 
thou  didst  befriend  me  in  the  night ! " 


Ill 

A  LITTLE  after  sunrise  on  the  first  day  of  the 
week,  throngs  of  people  hurried  eastward 
through  the  streets  of  Jerusalem.  Excited 
rumours  flew  from  tongue  to  tongue.  Some  said  one 
thing,  some  another;  but  there  was  a  continual  point- 
ing up  at  the  Mount  of  Olives,  where  on  the  grey- 
green  top,  around  the  two  cedars,  swarmed  red  scarves 
and  cloaks.  The  frequenters  of  the  bazaars  and  mar- 
ket-stalls, drawn  by  curiosity,  joined  the  passing 
crowds.  Thus  all  the  city  appeared  to  be  pouring  out 
to  Bethphage. 

In  truth,  Jesus  the  proscribed  carpenter  was  about 
to  enter  Jerusalem  in  open  defiance  of  the  authorities. 

As  he  rode  down  from  Bethany,  seated  on  a  white  ass, 
surrounded  by  his  chief  supporters,  a  mighty  shout 
reverberated.  An  ecstasy  of  joy  seized  the  adherents 
of  the  new  kingdom,  who,  although  a  minority  amongst 
the  spectators,  dominated  the  whole  mass  by  their 
active  enthusiasm.  Those  who  bore  palm-branches 
cast  them  in  the  path  of  their  leader  or  spread  their 
mantles  before  the  hoofs  of  the  beast  that  bore  him. 

"  Hosanna ! "  they  cried.  "  Blessed  be  he  that 
cometh  in  the  Lord's  name !  Blessed  be  the  kingdom  of 
our  father  David !  Hosanna !  Hosanna !  " 

His  chosen  ones  had  flung  their  cloaks  upon  the  ass. 

They   marched   in    compact    array   about   it,   exultant, 

226 


THE  PASSOVER  227 

heads  erect,  eyes  sparkling.  But  in  the  eyes  of  Jesus 
tears  gleamed,  when  he  beheld  that  great  city  and  its 
multitude  poured  out  to  greet  him. 

Meantime,  as  though  the  heavens  reflected  the  un- 
certain struggle  commencing  below,  clouds  warred  with 
the  sun.  Sunshine  and  shadow  swept  alternately  over 
the  hill  and  the  grey  old  city-walls.  An  unexpected 
rumble  of  thunder  sounded.  Jesus  glanced  up. 

Voices  in  the  superstitious  crowd  immediately  ex- 
claimed,— "  An  angel  spake  to  him !  —  An  angel 
spake  to  him !  " 

The  carpenter  however  looking  about  him  said, — 

"  This  rumble  13  came  not  because  of  me  but  for 
your  sakes.  Now  is  the  crisis  14  of  this  world !  Now 
shall  the  ruler  15  of  this  world  be  cast  out !  And  I,  if 
I  be  exalted  above  the  soil,16  will  draw  all  men  up  unto 
me!" 

When  he  had  come  to  the  foot  of  the  long  stairs 
leading  up  to  the  Temple,  he  dismounted  from  the  ass 
and  ascended  and  entered  the  Gentile  Court  by  the 
Gate  Beautiful.  A  clamorous  host  flooded  up  behind 
and  around  him. 

The  magnificent  outer  or  Gentile  Court  of  the 
Temple  contained  the  city  bourse  or  exchange,  where 
merchants,  traders,  and  money-lenders  met  to  transact 
business.  Herod  had  lavished  the  riches  of  his  treasury 
and  artistic  taste  upon  its  porticos  and  colonnades. 
Around  the  inner  wall  ran,  above,  the  famous  bronze- 
latticed  cloisters  for  women,  sustained  on  rows  of  col- 
umns exquisitely  wrought,  the  capitals  ornamented  by 
carved  figures  of  acanthus  and  water-leaf.  The  shaded 


228  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

walk  under  these  cloisters  had  come  to  be  known  as 
Solomon's  Porch  —  perhaps  from  some  popular  quip 
at  that  ancient  monarch's  famous  proclivity  for  the 
women.  Here  on  the  cool  marble  pavement,  which  was 
inlaid  with  stones  of  many  colours,  the  brokers  had 
their  hhanoth  or  stalls. 

Leading  into  the  Gentile  Court  were  many  noble 
gates  on  all  sides.  That  on  the  east  was  the  one  by 
which  the  carpenter  entered. 

At  the  time  Jesus  at  the  head  of  a  noisy  rabble  burst 
in,  the  exchange  was  well  filled  already  with  respectable 
citizens.  It  was  the  busiest  hour  of  the  day,  and  busi- 
ness had  not  stopped  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  tu- 
mult outside.  The  brokers  could  not  have  abandoned 
their  stalls  and  money-piles  in  any  event.  And  their 
customers  had  seen  fit  to  remain  for  a  concerted  pur- 
pose. These  prosperous  men  held,  with  scarce  an  ex- 
ception, the  most  conservative  principles.  They,  be- 
ing well  provided  for  under  prevailing  conditions,  saw 
no  need  of  change.  They  ascribed  the  public  discon- 
tent and  unrest  entirely  to  agitators.  To  belittle  the 
demagogue  Jesus  and  his  revolutionary  doctrines  by  an 
ostentatious  indifference  was  therefore  their  instinctive 
course. 

They  hoped  that  the  impressive  sight  of  substantial 
merchants  calmly  pursuing  the  customary  routine  of 
trade  would  restore  public  confidence  and  avert  the 
danger. 

But  when  Jesus  entering  beheld  their  activities,  he 
became  as  one  transformed.  His  eyes  flamed,  he 
rushed  among  them  crying, — 


THE  PASSOVER 

"  It  is  written,  '  My  house  shall  be  called  the 
house  of  prayer,' — but  ye  have  made  it  a  den  of 
thieves ! " 

Amid  an  enormous  uproar  he  boldly  overthrew  the 
money-tables.  The  heaps  of  coins  showered  upon  the 
floor.  Vainly  the  owners  shrieked  —  strove  to  push 
him  back  —  to  get  their  property  into  hiding.  He 
seized  a  whip  of  small  cords  and  drove  them  before  him. 
Table  after  table  crashed  down.  Like  worthless  hail- 
stones the  deluge  of  money  jingled,  clinked,  rolled,  and 
rattled  all  about  the  tessellated  pavement. 

A  mad  scramble  ensued.  The  rabble,  delirious  at  the 
sight,  tumbled  over  one  another,  snatched,  pounced 
hither  and  thither,  wrestled,  fought,  and  roared  with 
laughter. 

And  now  was  observed  a  strange  reversal  of  man- 
ner. 

To  those  dignified  optimates  it  was  as  if  the  end  of  the 
world  had  come.  This  rebellious  artisan  dared  to  lift 
his  hand  against  their  sacred  rights  of  private  property 
and  scatter  it  to  all  the  world!  A  moment  they  stood 
aghast.  Then  as  fortunes  dissolved  before  their  eyes, 
they  too  plunged  into  the  scramble. 

Men  who  a  moment  ago  had  been  deploring  with  high- 
sounding  phrases  the  base  passions  of  the  greedy  mob 
that  sought  to  overturn  ancient  institutions  and  destroy 
ancient  landmarks  set  by  the  fathers  for  the  maintenance 
of  justice, —  men  of  great  benevolence  of  mien  who  had 
assumed  an  attitude  of  superiority  to  selfish  gain, — 
now  dropped  upon  all  fours  and  out-scrambled  the  most 
frantic  beggar  or  cripple  in  snatching  for  the  pennies. 


230  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

The  ignoble  scuffle  soon  ended.  The  money  had  dis- 
appeared. 

Thereupon  the  throng  of  brokers  and  merchants 
turned  with  impotent  fury  upon  Jesus  and  reviled  him 
for  a  robber  and  thief.  They  screamed  out  against  the 
injustice  of  this  man  —  who  had  divided  the  savings  of 
thrift  amongst  the  idle  and  wasteful.  But  the  hoots 
and  threats  of  the  rabble  drove  them  down  into  the 
city. 

As  a  conqueror  the  demagogue  remained  in  posses- 
sion of  the  Gentile  Court.  He  began  to  expound  to 
the  multitude  the  new  rules  of  justice  that  were  to 
obtain  between  men  in  the  new  kingdom. 

Immense  throngs  pushed  up  the  various  stairs  and 
squeezed  in  at  the  various  gates  to  listen.  It  seemed 
throughout  the  day  that  he  was  winning  all  the  world 
to  him.  The  beggars,  harlots,  outcasts  —  the  lost 
sheep  of  Israel  who  had  nothing  under  the  existing 
system, —  acclaimed  him.  Great  numbers  of  the  ar- 
tisans, fishermen,  and  tillers  of  the  soil,  members  of  the 
eranoi,  in  whose  secret  councils  these  ideas  had  long 
been  discussed,  were  for  the  innovation.  There  were 
even  a  few  men  of  rank  and  power,  such  as  Nicodemus, 
who  had  a  seat  in  the  Sanhedrim,  and  the  wealthy 
Joseph  of  Arimathea,  secretly  inclined  to  it. 

But  there  remained  still  to  be  reckoned  with  the  two 
dominant  powers  in  the  Judean  government. 

There  was  first  the  prosperous  class,  the  Pharisees, 
which  controlled  both  church  and  state,  using  politics 
and  religion  to  advance  their  own  material  interests  but 
having  support  from  all  the  naturally  servile  and  con- 


THE  PASSOVER  231 

servative  arid  unthinking  ones  under  them  —  an  enor- 
mous weight  of  inertia. 

And  back  of  the  Pharisees,  like  a  huge  reserve,  only 
to  be  drawn  upon  as  a  last  resort,  loomed  the  over- 
whelming power  of  imperial  Rome. 

Hyrcanus,  who  had  witnessed  the  public  events  de- 
scribed, returned  to  his  inn  at  the  cool  of  day.  He 
was  going  through  the  narrow  little  street  under  the 
bridge,  when  his  cloak  was  twitched  from  behind.  He 
turned  and  beheld  Nadab. 

The  mute  had  been  set  to  watch  the  entrance  of  the 
inn,  as  a  precaution  against  spies;  and  from  his  fa- 
miliarity with  the  faces  of  Annas's  emissaries,  he  was 
peculiarly  well  fitted  for  such  a  task. 

Now  by  a  quick  sign  he  indicated  two  men  just 
entering  the  inn-door. 

One  was  of  moderate  stature,  plump,  with  a  short 
black  beard,  glossy  and  crinkled,  and  full  scarlet  lips  on 
which  an  habitual  smile  basked.  He  was  at  once  suave 
and  assured  of  manner.  The  other  was  taller  but 
thinner,  of  a  more  discouraged  appearance. 

Both  were  attired  like  petty  tradesmen.  They  en- 
tered the  inn,  crossed  the  dirty  court,  and  stood  be- 
side the  stable-wall,  well  apart  from  other  frequenters 
of  the  yard,  in  earnest  conference.  One  would  have 
supposed  them  to  be  a  pair  of  merchants  who  had 
slipped  in  from  the  noisy,  crowded  street  to  bargain  a 
moment  over  a  camel-load  of  Sidonian  cutlery.  Put- 
ting their  heads  together,  they  talked  softly,  with  swift 
gestures. 


THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

Nadab's  signs  to  Hyrcanus,  however,  indicated  that 
the  first  of  those  two  was  Malchus,  the  servant  of  the 
Highpriest. 

Here  was  disquieting  news. 

Malchus  was  a  personage  notorious  throughout  all 
Judea,  at  once  feared,  hated,  and  envied  by  the  popu- 
lace. Of  the  lowest  birth,  in  fact  a  freedman,  he  had 
risen  to  affluence  and  power  under  Annas  by  lending 
himself  as  an  astute  and  merciless  instrument  for  the 
oppression  of  his  own  class. 

It  was  he  who  directed  the  seizure  of  threshing-floors, 
cattle,  and  houses  for  delinquent  tithes,  and  performed 
those  other  ugly  duties  in  the  maintenance  of  govern- 
ment, to  which  his  masters  did  not  wish  to  stoop,  al- 
though they  profited  by  them.  He  was  the  sort  of  in- 
valuable servant  that  the  optimates  hailed  as  an  ex- 
ample of  low-born  success ;  but  the  people  would  have 
stoned  him,  had  they  dared. 

Such  a  one's  presence  in  the  humble  inn,  attired  as 
a  petty  tradesman  to  avoid  recognition,  caused  Hyr- 
canus to  act  quickly. 

"  Go  thou  in,  Nadab,"  said  he.  "  Post  thyself  un- 
observed at  that  window  of  the  stable,  which  is  above 
their  heads.  Then  will  I  openly  enter  in  their  sight. 
Do  thou  observe  and  hearken,  for  thine  ear  is  of  the 
keenness  of  the  fox.  If  their  purpose  be  evil  against 
us,  lift  thy  hand  thus.  But  if  their  design  be  not  di- 
rected against  us,  lift  then  thy  hand  thus." 

Nadab  bided  his  time  a  moment  and  entered  beside 
a  pair  of  asses  that,  with  full  loads  of  firewood,  were 
being  driven  into  the  yard. 


THE  PASSOVER  233 

It  was  but  a  short  while  before  his  scarred  face  ap- 
peared cautiously  at  an  opening  in  the  stable,  above 
the  heads  of  the  suspected  men. 

Hyrcanus  strode  openly  in  across  the  yard.  A  score 
of  his  swarthy  sheep-dealers  and  caravan-guards  were 
loitering  about  the  enclosure  at  the  time.  A  dozen  of 
them  were  in  the  shade  under  the  pillars  of  the  house, 
grouped  about  three  who,  squatting  on  their  heels, 
gambled  with  pebbles.  As  Hyrcanus  passed,  he  lifted 
a  fold  of  his  Babylonian  garment. 

This  was  an  agreed-on  signal.  The  disguised  rob- 
bers, thus  warned,  made  sure  of  their  weapons  under 
their  cloaks  and  drew  a  little  more  together,  unobtru- 
sively. The  three  in  the  middle  pretended  to  go  on 
with  their  gambling.  But  all  were  on  the  alert.  At  a 
word  from  their  leader  they  were  prepared  to  slay 
like  cattle  everyone  within  that  place. 

Hyrcanus  drew  near  the  stable,  fixing  his  eyes  upon 
the  two  men  there.  His  manner  compelled  them  to 
take  notice  of  him.  Thrice  he  paced  slowly  by.  They 
put  their  heads  closer  together  and  muttered  excitedly, 
while  Nadab  leaned  out  above  with  stealth  and  listened. 

It  was  evident  that  Malchus  was  unalarmed  by  Hyr- 
canus's  sharp  looks;  he  returned  the  gaze  contemp- 
tuously. But  his  companion  was  more  disturbed.  And 
presently  they  hastened  out  of  the  inn-yard. 

The  signal  which  would  have  doomed  them  was  with- 
held. 

After  a  moment  Nadab  emerged  from  the  stable. 

"  What  sought  they  ?  "  Hyrcanus  inquired  of  him. 

Malchus,  it  seemed,  had  been  instructing  the  other, 


234  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

who  was  a  common  spy,  to  mingle  amongst  the  in- 
novators and  ascertain  if  possible  their  plans.  If  an 
opportunity  arose  of  arresting  Jesus  without  exciting 
the  mob  to  violence,  the  spy  was  to  report  it  at  once. 
The  unexampled  boldness  of  the  popular  leader  and 
the  favour  he  had  found  among  the  people  had  discon- 
certed the  governing  authorities  for  the  moment.  They 
dared  not  provoke  a  tumult  while  that  great  multitude 
lay  in  and  about  the  city,  ready  perhaps  to  hearken  to 
any  appeal  to  prejudice  or  passion.  The  forces  of 
law  and  order  were  momentarily  powerless ;  but  they 
were  only  biding  their  time. 

The  revelation  of  this  plot  of  the  Pharisees  to  seize 
the  carpenter  by  stealth  troubled  Hyrcanus  strangely. 
He  reflected  upon  it  for  a  little  while,  and  then  went 
out  and  ascended  towards  the  Temple. 

Day  was  almost  ended,  but  a  slow  river  of  people 
still  pushed  up  the  long,  wide,  stone  staircase  into  the 
Temple.  Their  advance  was  continually  delayed  by 
counter-currents  of  those  descending.  Innumerable 
voices  talked,  disputed,  questioned.  On  all  faces  dwelt 
a  changed  look  —  flushed,  pale,  exultant,  scowling,  or 
loose-hung  with  mere  stupid  amaze.  But  on  that 
great  day  no  one  remained  entirely  unstirred. 

Hyrcanus  at  last  attained  the  Gentile  Court. 

Purple  shadows  had  begun  to  darken  the  magnifi- 
cent portico  under  the  cloisters.  The  sun's  glowing 
wheel  rested  on  the  Plain  of  Rephaim;  the  portico  be- 
ing on  the  eastward  side  of  the  Temple  was  in  semi- 
twilight  already.  Overturned  stalls  and  benches  were 
strewn  about  the  marble  pavement  and  heaped  against 


THE  PASSOVER  235 

the  massive  pillars  like  wreckage  in  an  arena  after  a 
hard-fought  day.  In  the  air  was  something  feverish, 
triumphant.  The  red  mantles  of  labour  clustered 
everywhere. 

Jesus  had  ended  his  public  discourse.  The  crowds 
had  been  slowly  thinning.  But  still  an  unappeased 
eagerness  to  behold  him  kept  a  dense  circle  about  the 
spot  where  he  stood  between  two  rows  of  columns. 
Surrounded  thus,  he  was  invisible  except  to  the  inner- 
most. 

As  Hyrcanus  moved  about  the  outskirts  of  the 
throng,  looking  for  some  suitable  person  to  whom  he 
might  impart  his  warning,  he  felt  himself  abruptly  and 
roughly  thrust  out  of  the  way  of  one  who  came  rushing 
against  him  from  behind. 

A  sturdy  red-haired  man  attempted  to  plunge  into  the 
circle. 

Hyrcanus  caught  him  by  his  coarse  cloak  and  re- 
strained him.  "Barjona!" 

"  Let  be !  —  let  be !  "  exclaimed  the  fisherman,  tug- 
ging to  free  his  garment,  unmindful  of  who  detained. 

"  But  stay  a  breathing-space,  Simon.  I  have  a  word 
for  thee." 

"  Have  loose,  say  I !     I  am  in  haste !  " 

The  day's  great  events  had  wrought  Simon  to  a 
fervent  heat  resembling  fever.  His  red  hair  was  fly- 
ing wild,  his  big,  strong  face  wet  with  sweat  and  flushed 
dark  through  its  sunburn,  his  eyes  like  stars.  He  was 
as  one  who  after  long  grapple  tastes  the  first  sweets  of 
victory. 

Finding  himself  still  withheld,  he  whirled  violently 


236  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

about.  "  Canst  thou  not  free  my  cloak  from  thy  .  .  . 
Ah !  Is  it  thou !  "  he  cried,  recognising  Hyrcanus,  and 
clasped  him  to  his  heaving  chest. 

"  Far  have  I  come,  with  eager  steps,  Simon." 

"  To  behold  the  setting  up  of  the  new  kingdom !  " 

"  Yea, —  and  on  other  matters." 

"  Oh,  hast  thou  beheld  this  day !  Hosanna !  The 
acceptable  day  of  the  Lord !  Oh,  blessed  art  thou !  — 
blessed  all  who  witnessed  it!  How  the  word  hath 
brought  forth  —  since  that  hour  when  the  kurios  stood 
up  and  proclaimed  good  news  to  the  poor ! 1T  —  heal- 
ing to  the  discouraged ! 18  —  freedom  to  slaves !  — 
sight  to  the  blind !  —  relief  to  the  bruised !  Hosanna ! 
Hosanna !  Make  him  victorious  !  " 

He  poured  out  these  exultant  cries,  his  strong  voice 
swelling  to  an  ever  more  resonant  compass,  in  spite  of 
Hyrcanus's  efforts  to  shake  him  into  silence. 

"  Peace !  Peace !  Hopest  thou  to  stupefy  the  rul- 
ing powers  by  this  noise?  "  And  Hyrcanus  whispered 
into  his  ear. 

Even  then  Barjona  descended  only  a  little  from  his 
pinnacle  of  ecstasy. 

"  It  is  naught !  It  is  naught !  By  day  they  dare 
not  seize  him  because  of  the  multitude.  And  by  night 
they  shall  seek  long  ere  they  find  him !  Nay,  we  have 
planned  it  well !  He  sleepeth  not  within  doors !  How 
then  may  they  compass  him !  .  .  .  But  yet  —  I  would 
I  had  a  sword !  " 

"  Mine  shalt  thou  have." 

He  accepted  eagerly  the  sharp  sword,  girded  it  to 
his  thigh,  and  smote  it  with  his  broad  palm. 


THE  PASSOVER  237 

"  I  thank  thee !  "  he  cried.  "  Unskilled  is  this  hand 
in  the  use  of  such  tools,  but  if  need  be,  they  shall  feel 
the  weight  of  an  arm  that  hath  dragged  many  nets! 
I  thank  thee !  How  may  I  requite  thee !  " 

"  That  mightest  thou  by  two  words,  Simon." 

The  fisherman  looked  shrewdly  into  Hyrcanus's 
thinned  face. 

"  Thou  seekest  her  still?  " 

"  What  are  my  days  and  nights  without  her !  They 
are  as  vinegar  to  my  soul.  Speak  to  me  of  her,  Simon." 

"  Thou  sufferest  according  to  the  will  of  God." 

"Hath  she  then  forgot  me?"  demanded  Hyrcanus 
fiercely. 

Barjona  struggled  against  a  rising  smile. 

'*  I  fear  she  is  of  the  same  clay  as  thyself.  Mine 
ear  hath  been  troubled  of  late  by  words  sounding  some- 
what like  unto  thine." 

"  Where  is  she !  —  that  I  may  fly  upon  the  wind  to 
her!" 

"  Nay,  wait  thou  until  the  Passover.  If  then  thou 
come  to  the  house  of  Lazarus  at  Bethany  with  thy 
hands  unstained  by  blood  .  .  .  Why  dost  thou  grind 
thy  teeth  and  look  aghast  ?  " 

Hyrcanus's  face  had  darkened. 

"  By  God's  wrath,"  he  said  bitterly,  "  I  am  mocked !  " 

He  turned  upon  his  heel,  wrapped  his  cloak  closer 
about  him,  and  went  gloomily  out  of  the  Temple. 

The  sun  had  sunk. 

Under  the  splendour  of  the  afterglow  the  grey  city 
beneath  already  brooded  in  sad  twilight.  That  great 
flood  of  people  that  all  day  long  had  flowed  up  the 


238  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

Temple-stairs  was  departing.  Rivers  of  heads  were 
pouring  out  through  the  gates  and  down  into  the  lower 
shadows. 

The  cold  wind  of  night  seemed  to  have  chilled  all 
hearts.  Something  had  vanished  from  the  first  warm 
glory  and  gleam. 

The  people  flowed  out  and  down  almost  in  silence, 
to  disappear  among  the  narrow  streets. 

Only  a  multitudinous  dull  murmur  sounded,  like  the 
voice  of  an  ebbing  tide. 


IV 

IN  the  white  moonlight  of  sleeping  Bethany,  Hyr- 
canus  came  over  the  hill  and  down  the  village  road 
to  the  little  garden  he  knew  so  well.  From  the 
words  Barjona  had  let  fall  a  temptation  had  sprung 
which,  growing  with  the  hours,  had  at  last  drawn  his 
feet  hither  through  the  sweet  spring  night. 

The  gate  was  shut  and  obdurate,  the  windows  of  the 
house  closed  like  seals  on  a  forbidden  book. 

He  entered  the  garden,  passed  beneath  the  rippling 
olive  trees,  his  sandals  crunching  lightly  on  the  beaten 
path,  and  approached  the  door. 

In  his  heart  was  still  a  kind  of  fighting ;  but,  strangled 
by  wild  desire,  he  yielded  to  the  abject  impulse.  He 
would  clasp  the  girl  in  his  arms  again,  look  into  her 
dark  eyes,  and  feel  her  warm,  soft  lips  on  his,  cost  what 
it  might.  For  after  all  what  was  Barabbas  to  him ! 

And  so  he  lifted  his  hand  to  knock. 

In  the  very  act  a  spirit  seemed  to  draw  him  back- 
ward by  the  hair.  A  low,  gasping  cry  sounded  in  his 
ear, — 

"  Save  me,  Master!  I  served  ihee!  Thou  owest  me 
this!  " 

Had  a  voice  really  spoken?  He  stared  about  him 
into  the  thick  shadow.  His  blood  hitherto  so  hot  and 

eager  ran  cold. 

239 


240  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

It  mattered  little  that  the  ghostly  sound  resolved  it- 
self into  the  low  scraping  and  rubbing  of  a  breeze-stirred 
bough  against  the  wall.  He  drew  back  a  step,  then 
another.  Shame  and  remorse  chilled  him  to  the  deepest 
depths  of  his  soul. 

While  he  stood  motionless  in  the  middle  of  the  path, 
someone  began  to  sing  softly  at  the  latticed  window 
above.  The  words,  indistinct,  rather  hummed  than 
spoken,  melted  upon  his  ear, — 

"  We  have  piped  unto  you, 

And  ye  have  not  danced; 
We  have  mourned  unto  you, 
And  ye  have  not  wept." 

A  sprig  of  the  fragrant  Rose  of  Sharon  came  flit- 
ting down  and  fell  at  his  feet. 

"  Bernice !  "  he  panted. 

"Hyrcanus!"  she  answered  joyfully.  "At  last 
thou  art  come!  Wait,  my  beloved,  and  I  will  open  to 
thee." 

He  started  forward  again,  but  stopped,  and  stuffed 
his  thumbs  into  his  ears. 

"  I  am  lost  —  lost  for  all  the  ages ! "  he  cried,  and 
turned,  burst  madly  through  the  gate,  and  fled. 

He  rushed  up  the  road. 

All  through  that  night  he  wandered  upon  the  hills 
like  one  demented.  Among  the  huddled  tents  and 
booths,  dogs  barked  at  him,  and  sometimes  men, 
aroused,  peered  forth  and  challenged  him.  But  he 
wandered  on  and  on  unheeding. 

The  city-gates  were  reopened  at  dawn.  He 
traversed  the  streets  with  haggard  mien,  arrived  at  last 


THE  PASSOVER  241 

at  the  little  inn  under  the  bridge,  and  cast  himself  upon 
his  bed. 

Later  in  the  day  Nadab  brought  him  news  of  such 
moment  as  roused  his  flagging  energies.  The  location 
of  Barabbas's  dungeon  had  been  ascertained  by  means 
of  a  bribe.  The  robber  lay  in  chains  underneath 
Strato's  Tower  in  the  citadel  of  Antonia. 

"  Strato's  Tower ! "  said  Hyrcanus,  rising.  "  Ill- 
omened  is  that  spot  for  me  and  mine !  There  was  slain 
of  old  Antigonus  by  his  brother  the  king.  Neverthe- 
less a  new  thought  hath  come  into  my  mind." 

From  the  inner  Temple  to  Strato's  Tower  extended 
a  covered  passage  or  tunnel,  built  by  King  Herod  in 
former  times  to  guard  against  popular  seditions.  This 
hidden  way  had  fallen  into  disuse  since  the  Roman  oc- 
cupation. The  thought  which  had  occurred  to  Hyr- 
canus was,  that  the  way  might  prove  to  be  carelessly 
guarded,  affording  a  means  of  entering  by  stealth  into 
the  citadel. 

He  arose,  therefore,  and  went  up  to  the  Temple,  at- 
tired in  his  scarlet-bordered  grey  cap  and  Babylonian 
cloak. 

He  mingled  with  the  stream  of  people  that  ascended 
the  broad  steps.  It  was  yet  early  in  the  day,  but  un- 
usual crowds  were  already  hastening  towards  the  Gen- 
tile Court.  He  followed,  aware  that  some  new  event 
impended. 

Simultaneously  with  his  entrance  from  the  west,  an 
immense  throng,  swarming  noisily  about  Jesus  the  car- 
penter, poured  up  from  the  east. 

The  Gentile  Court  was  still  strewn  with  the  broken 


242  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

benches  and  debris  of  yesterday.  But  now  under  the 
wall  of  the  royal  cloisters,  among  the  Corinthian  col- 
umns of  Solomon's  Porch,  stood  a  compact  group  of 
scribes,  priests,  and  elders. 

The  sun  blazing  above  the  green  head  of  Olivet  shone 
in  across  the  wide  mosaic  pavement  with  long  broad 
beams  of  warm  colour.  It  basked  upon  the  imposing 
forms  and  keen  intellectual  features  of  those  men. 

Conspicuous  against  the  sunlight,  in  their  garments 
of  fine  white  linen  and  azure,  they  coolly  awaited  the  ap- 
proach of  the  red-garbed  rabble  and  its  leader.  They 
were  like  a  small  but  well-trained  force  opposed  to  a 
disorderly  mob. 

The  struggle  had  indeed  assumed  a  new  phase. 

The  optimates  had  already  rallied  from  their  initial 
defeat.  Night  intervening  had  given  them  time  to  take 
counsel  together  and  adopt  plans  for  saving  the  govern- 
ment. 

Annas  and  the  others  realised  that  for  the  moment 
arms  could  not  be  employed  to  crush  the  innovation. 
Nothing  less  than  the  Roman  soldiery  could  accomplish 
that.  And  the  Roman  troops  could  not  be  brought  in 
to  put  down  a  local  disturbance  which  did  not  involve 
rebellion  against  the  empire. 

But  while  pretexts  were  being  devised  to  obtain  the 
intervention  of  the  imperial  soldiers,  steps  must  be 
taken  to  check  the  growth  of  the  new  movement. 

The  optimates  saw  clearly  that  the  multitude  ac- 
claimed the  seditious  carpenter  with  enthusiasm;  but 
it  was  rather  a  personal  popularity  than  belief  as  yet 
In  his  new  kingdom  which  drew  them  to  him.  The 


THE  PASSOVER  248 

great  masses  of  people  were  slow  to  accept  new  ideas. 
A  habit  of  unquestioning  obedience  to  tradition  and 
established  forms  held  them  back.  The  issue  was  still 
trembling  in  the  balance. 

If  now  the  carpenter's  shallow  pretentions  to  knowl- 
edge could  be  held  up  to  ridicule  before  his  admirers, 
if  his  ignorance  and  presumption  could  be  exposed,  the 
influence  he  wielded  over  the  imaginations  of  the  un- 
thinking rabble  would  be  weakened. 

For  that  purpose  a  chosen  few  had  been  put  forward. 

These  that  now  stood  quietly  waiting  in  Solomon's 
Porch  were  judges,  counsellors,  and  lawyers  trained  in 
the  best  schools  of  learning,  with  wits  sharpened  by  in- 
cessant public  discussion.  Foremost  among  them  stood 
Phinehas,  the  astute  leader  of  the  Sanhedrim. 

As  Jesus  walked  forward,  seeming  to  be  pushed  on  by 
the  jostling  crowd,  several  of  the  opposing  group 
politely  saluted  him.  In  these  courtesies  was  a  slight 
derision. 

Jesus  perceived  their  purpose  to  speak  to  him  and 
stopped. 

The  bald-browed  lean  Phinehas  opened  the  verbal 
combat. 

"  By  what  authority  doest  thou  these  things  ?  "  he 
asked.  His  gesture,  quiet  and  stern,  indicated  the  over- 
turned money-tables  and  wrecked  stalls.  "  And  who 
gave  thee  this  authority  to  do  these  things?  " 

The  calm,  firm  air  of  the  spokesman  and  indeed  of 
all  the  optimates  suggested  what  in  their  hearts  they 
felt,  that  they  were  there  as  the  embodiment  of  law, 
order,  and  justice,  that  retributive  power  before  which 


244  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

the  boldest  law-breaker  must  instinctively  shrink.  In 
their  eyes  the  carpenter  was  a  mere  rioter,  a  seditious 
brawler. 

A  moment  Jesus  stood  silent.  Faint  murmurs  rippled 
over  the  crowd  which  pressed  around. 

Then  Jesus  lifted  his  head  and  looked  into  the  faces 
of  his  accusers. 

"  I  will  also  ask  of  you  one  question.  Answer  me, 
and  I  will  tell  you  by  what  authority  I  do  these  things. 
The  baptism  of  John  —  was  it  from  heaven,  or  of 
men?" 

John's  was  a  formidable  name  to  hurl  at  those  in 
high  places,  who  had  opposed  his  agitation.  That 
fierce  denouncer  of  the  crimes  of  rulers  had  been  canon- 
ised in  the  hearts  of  the  common  people  since  his  death. 
Applause  broke  out  at  the  mention  of  the  great  popular 
leader  whom  the  rulers  had  slain. 

This  counter-question  was  unexpectedly  adroit. 
The  dignified  champions  of  established  government  be- 
trayed a  swift  confusion.  They  mutely  interrogated 
one  another  with  their  eyes.  If  they  replied,  "  From 
heaven,"  they  stood  convicted  by  their  own  words  of 
having  opposed  a  just  movement.  But  if  they  denied 
the  justice  of  John's  agitation,  they  feared  that  the 
people  would  stone  them.  They  were  nonplussed,  and 
at  length  Phinehas  somewhat  lamely  answered, — 

"  We  cannot  tell." 

"  Then,"  said  the  carpenter,  "  neither  tell  I  you  by 
what  authority  I  do  these  things." 

He  looked  slowly  about  the  circle  of  intent  faces. 
His  grave,  luminous  eyes  seemed  to  comprehend  them 


THE  PASSOVER  245 

all.     His  voice  increasing  in  volume  rang  back  from 
the  cloister  wall,  clear  and  strong  in  the  silence. 

"  But  what  think  ye !  A  man  had  two  sons.  And 
he  came  to  the  first  and  said,  *  Son,  go  work  today  in 
my  vineyard.'  He  answered  and  said,  *  I  will  not ! '  but 
afterwards  he  repented  and  went.  And  he  came  to 
the  second  and  said  likewise.  And  he  answered  and 
said,  '  I  go,  sir,'  and  went  not.  Which  of  those  two 
did  the  will  of  his  father?  " 

"  The  first !  "  exclaimed  many  voices. 

The  brown  forefinger  of  the  carpenter  pointed 
straight  into  the  faces  of  the  expounders  of  law.  He 
seemed  to  grow  in  stature  before  them. 

"  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  the  publicans  and 
harlots  go  into  the  kingdom  of  God  before  you!  For 
John  came  to  you  in  the  cause  of  justice,19  and  ye  be- 
lieved him  not.  But  the  publicans  and  harlots  believed 
him.  And  ye,  when  ye  had  seen,  changed  not  after- 
wards that  ye  might  believe  him." 

Amid  the  vociferous  approval  of  the  by-standers, 
Jesus  continued, — 

"  Hear  another  parable.  A  certain  householder 
planted  a  vineyard  and  hedged  it  round  and  digged  a 
winepress  in  it  and  built  a  tower,  and  let  it  out  to 
tenants  and  went  into  a  far  country.  And  when  the 
time  of  the  fruit  drew  near,  he  sent  his  servants  to  the 
tenants,  that  they  might  receive  the  fruits  of  it.  And 
the  tenants  took  his  servants  and  beat  one,  and  killed 
another,  and  stoned  another.  Again  he  sent  other 
servants,  more  than  the  first;  and  they  did  unto  them 
likewise.  But  last  of  all  he  sent  unto  them  his  son, 


246  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

saying,  *  They  will  reverence  my  son.'  But  when  the 
tenants  saw  the  son,  they  said  among  themselves,  '  This 
is  the  heir!  Come,  let  us  kill  him,  and  let  us  seize  on 
his  inheritance ! '  And  they  caught  him  and  cast  him 
out  of  the  vineyard  and  slew  him.  When  the  Jcurios 
therefore  of  the  vineyard  cometh,  what  will  he  do  unto 
those  tenants  ?  " 

Some  already  perceived  the  terrible  allusion,  from 
what  had  gone  before.  The  vineyard  was  the  land  of 
Israel.  The  servants  who  had  come  successively  were 
the  ancient  prophets  —  they  who  had  stood  up  for  the 
oppressed  and  denounced  the  rulers  for  their  greed  and 
lust.  And  the  last  and  best,  the  son,  was  John. 

Hot  and  angry  came  the  cry, — 

"  He  will  miserably  destroy  those  wicked  men  and  will 
let  out  his  vineyard  unto  other  tenants  who  shall  render 
him  the  fruits  in  their  seasons !  " 

And  once  more  the  carpenter's  rough  forefinger 
pointed  its  accusation  into  the  disconcerted  faces  of 
the  optimates. 

"  Did  ye  never  read  in  the  Scriptures,  '  The  stone 
which  the  builders  rejected,  the  same  is  become  the  head 
of  the  corner:  this  is  the  Lord's  doing  and  it  is  mar- 
vellous in  our  eyes ! '  Therefore  say  I  unto  you,  God's 
kingdom  shall  be  taken  from  you  and  given  to  people 
bringing  forth  the  fruits  thereof !  And  whosoever  shall 
fall  on  this  stone  shall  be  broken :  but  on  whomsoever  it 
shall  fall,  it  will  grind  him  to  powder ! " 

The  very  law  itself,  which  the  Pharisees  assumed  to 
uphold,  was  being  hurled  against  them.  From  ac- 
cusers they  had  somehow,  unawares,  become  the  ac- 


THE  PASSOVER  247 

cused.  The  positions  were  reversed.  The  optimates 
as  a  class  stood  on  trial,  it  seemed,  before  the  people, 
charged  with  the  rejection  and  death  of  John,  whose 
cause  was  now  claimed  by  this  later  demagogue.  It  was 
a  disagreeable  predicament,  even  dangerous.  They  be- 
gan to  slip  away  singly,  or  by  twos  and  threes,  amid  the 
taunts  and  derisive  cries  of  the  mob. 

Phinehas  saw  his  forces  deserting  him. 

But  he  smoothed  his  bald  white  forehead  and  still 
mustered  a  smile.  Skilled  in  the  subtleties  of  the  law, 
he  was  not  one  to  be  routed  by  a  horn-fisted  artisan, 
even  though  that  person  displayed  a  remarkable  talent 
for  sounding  a  popular  chord.  Nor  was  he  to  be 
daunted  by  public  clamour; — he  had  maintained  too 
many  disfavoured  causes  before  the  tribunals  for 
that. 

And  when  the  remaining  optimates  beheld  Phinehas's 
unruffled  composure,  they  drew  new  breath  of  hope. 
They  knew  him  to  be  a  man  of  infinite  resource. 

He  waited  till  the  noise  subsided.  On  his  thin  lips 
dwelt  a  smile  but  one  degree  removed  from  a  sneer. 

His  smooth,  courteous  voice  became  audible, — 

"  Teacher,  we  know  that  thou  art  straightforward 
and  carest  for  no  man.  For  thou  regardest  not  the 
countenance  20  of  men  but  teachest  God's  way  for  the 
sake  of  truth.  Is  it  right  to  give  tribute  to  Caesar  or 
not  ?  Shall  we  give  or  shall  we  not  give  ?  " 

Here  indeed  was  a  trap  for  the  demagogue  as  sharp 
as  his  own;  and  those  behind  Phinehas,  noting  how  the 
carpenter  paused,  nudged  each  other  with  covert  glee. 

A  great  public  question  of  the  times  was  involved  in 


248  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

the  matter  of  payment  of  the  tribute-money  to  Cassar. 
It  must  be  paid  in  Roman  coinage,  which,  since  the 
Roman  Senate  had  decreed  for  Augustus  the  divine 
title  of  divus  or  god,  bore  that  appellation  surrounding 
the  image  of  the  late  emperor.  The  religious  prej- 
udice of  the  Jewish  populace  conceived  therefore  the 
payment  of  the  tribute  to  be  in  fact  a  trick  to  make 
them  render  homage  to  a  foreign  god. 

Now  if  Jesus  declared  for  payment  of  the  tribute,  he 
exposed  himself  to  the  charge  of  heresy,  or  at  least  in- 
curred the  public  disfavour.  If  on  the  other  hand  he 
declared  against  the  payment,  he  might  be  charged  with 
inciting  rebellion  against  the  emperor, —  which  would 
afford  the  much-desired  excuse  for  calling  in  the  foreign 
soldiery  to  crush  the  revolt. 

But  the  carpenter's  furrowed  face  showed  an  open 
scorn  of  this  hypocrisy. 

*'  Why  tempt  ye  me !  Bring  me  a  penny,  that  I  may 
see  it." 

He  turned  as  if  in  search  of  the  tamias  or  treasurer 
of  his  organisation.  But  the  tamias,  who  carried  the 
bag,  was  missing.  Phinehas  handed  him  a  silver  coin. 
Jesus  held  it  up. 

"  Whose  is  this  image  and  superscription  ?  " 

"  Caesar's." 

"  Render  to  Caesar  the  things  that  are  Cassar's,  and 
to  God  the  things  that  are  God's !  "  And  he  returned 
him  the  coin. 

So  splendidly  had  he  avoided  the  trap,  making  even 
out  of  this  a  further  rebuke  to  the  moneyed  classes, 
that  a  universal  shout,  not  unmingled  with  laughter, 


THE  PASSOVER  249 

rolled  and  reverberated  under  the  Corinthian  columns 
of  the  Porch. 

The  bald  brow  of  Phinehas  was  suffused  with  crim- 
son shame.  The  remnant  of  the  optimates  were  fleeing 
before  that  storm  of  ridicule  like  frightened  sheep, 
down  into  the  city.  He  wrapped  his  mantle  about  his 
face  to  hide  his  chagrin  and  also  fled. 

Again  the  carpenter  had  triumphed. 


AMID  the  general  excitement  which  attended  the 
discomfiture  of  the  Pharisees,  Hyrcanus 
ascended  the  few  steps  leading  to  the  inner  en- 
closure. Even  the  Serjeants  of  the  Temple,  whose 
swords  guarded  the  sacred  portals,  had  been  lured  a 
moment  from  their  posts  by  the  dramatic  spectacle 
outside.  Hyrcanus  gained  the  Court  of  Israelites, 
sometimes  called  the  Sanctuary,  unnoticed  and  un- 
challenged. 

The  wall  compassing  this  enclosure  bore  an  inscrip- 
tion decreeing  death  to  any  gentile  who  trod  therein. 

Here  were  the  offices,  guard-room,  and  Llshcath-ha- 
gazith  or  hall  of  hewn  stones  where  the  Sanhedrim  as- 
sembled. Facing  the  porch  of  the  Holy  Place  rose  the 
magnificent  Nicanor  Gate,  fashioned  of  gleaming  Corin- 
thian brass. 

Fortune  aided  Hyrcanus.  There  happened  to  be  no 
one  about  the  inner  court  at  the  moment  to  take  heed 
to  the  tall  Babylonian  merchant.  He  slipped  unob- 
served into  the  empty  Lishcath-ha-gazith,  whose  doors 
stood  ajar. 

The  hall  appeared  at  first  view  surprisingly  small 
for  the  assembly-chamber  of  the  great  national  senate, 
because  the  eye's  expectation  had  been  deceived  by  the 

vast  courts   and  pillars  outside.     It  was,  however,  an 

250 


THE  PASSOVER  251 

apartment  of  noble  dimensions,  illuminated  by  windows 
somewhat  narrow  and  slit-like,  high  in  the  wall.  The 
warm  daylight  turned  to  quiet  grey,  melted,  and  lost 
strength  and  colour  amongst  the  carved  beams  and 
panels  of  dark  cedar. 

On  the  tessellated  marble  floor  were  spread  rich  rugs 
that  glowed  in  the  dim  light  with  subdued  harmonies. 
Cushions  were  heaped  circuitously  about,  where  the 
seventy  members  of  the  council  were  accustomed  to  sit. 
At  the  farther  end,  facing  the  door,  stood  the  more  ele- 
vated seats  of  the  Nasi  and  the  Ab-Beth-Din. 

The  location  of  the  mouth  of  Herod's  famous  con- 
cealed passage  had  long  been  known  to  Hyrcanus  by 
family  tradition.  He  paused  only  to  assure  himself 
that  he  was  alone  in  the  chamber,  and  then  went  quickly 
behind  the  throne-chair  and  lifted  the  thick  tapestry 
which  hung  there  against  the  stone  wall. 

A  glance  taught  him  that  no  hope  lay  in  this  direc- 
tion. The  small,  solid,  bronze  door  which  closed  the 
tunnel  had  been  securely  locked  and  chained  on  both 
sides.  It  would  be  impossible  to  force  it  open  without 
such  noise  as  would  arouse  the  guards  both  of  the 
Temple  and  the  citadel. 

The  original  plan  for  rescuing  Barabbas,  namely,  to 
fall  suddenly  upon  the  guards  at  the  bema  when  he  was 
led  out  for  judgment,  seemed  the  most  feasible. 

Hyrcanus  had  lowered  the  tapestry  into  place  again 
but  was  still  behind  the  throne-chair,  when  he  was 
warned  of  approaching  danger  by  a  murmur  of  voices. 

Others  had  entered  the  LishcatMia-gazith.  They 
were  four  men,  and  their  actions  were  peculiar. 


THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

One  posted  himself  at  the  outer  door  as  if  to  watch, 
held  it  partly  open,  and  frequently  peeped  out.  The 
daylight  streamed  in  across  his  plump,  shrewd  face,  re- 
vealing a  glossy  black  beard  and  smiling  red  mouth. 
It  was  Malchus,  the  Highpriest's  servant. 

The  other  three  had  advanced  into  the  room.  It 
was  almost  impossible  for  Hyrcanus  to  see  them  at 
first  without  exposing  himself  to  discovery.  He 
crouched  behind  the  chair  and  waited. 

Presently  two  voices  began  to  be  heard,  one  uncouth, 
violently  protesting,  the  other  calm,  cultured,  and  kind. 

They  came  gradually  a  little  nearer.  Then  he  saw 
them,  under  the  deficient  light  that  spilled  down  from 
above.  They  were  standing  together  within  the  circuit 
of  cushions. 

This  stately  form,  this  high  and  noble  countenance 
with  broad  phylacteries  and  snowy  wealth  of  beard,  be- 
longed to  the  great  priest  Annas. 

And  the  rough  red-garbed  rustic  on  whom  Annas  was 
bringing  all  his  subtle  powers  of  persuasion  to  bear, 
was  the  missing  tamias  of  the  Nazarene  fellowship, — 
he  who  carried  the  bag. 

A  third  was  present  at  that  interview.  He  loomed 
vaguely  in  shadow  behind  the  shoulder  of  Annas, 
neither  quite  seen  nor  unseen.  Tall,  emaciated,  he 
stood  and  listened  in  attentive  silence  and  clutched 
closer  about  him  his  dark  cloak  as  if  against  an  ever- 
consuming  chill  within,  that  no  warmth  of  sun  or  fire 
could  banish. 

A  rude  hind  was  the  tamias,  a  sun-tanned  short  man, 
flat-browed,  broad-nosed,  with  a  wilderness  of  black 


THE  PASSOVER  253 

hair  and  beard.  At  every  word  he  shook  his  shaggy 
head  in  a  manner  at  once  suspicious  and  unreasoning. 

"No!  No!  Why  brought  ye  me  in  hither?  I  will 
not !  Thou'rt  Highpriest, —  a  simple  man  I !  Yet  I 
say  No  to  thee !  " 

"  But  Judas  my  son, —  didst  thou  not  declare  thy 
name  to  be  Judas  ?  —  if  thou  wilt  but  listen  .  .  ." 

"  Oh,  thou  hast  baskets  of  reasons !  —  camel-loads  of 
reasons !  —  learned  reasons !  Big  grand  words  that 
sing  in  the  ear  like  a  harp!  What  know  I  of  your 
learned  reasons?  School-learning  had  I  none!  Nor 
my  father  ere  my  time!  Since  ever  I  was  high  as  this 
fine  pillow  —  look  you  now !  —  my  father  being  killed 
by  some  devil  that  pulled  down  a  scaffold  on  him  in 
Phanuel's  field,  and  six  mouths  of  us  at  home  to  feed, 
—  since  ever  that  day  have  I  worked  at  man's  work 
in  the  vineyards.  No  better  a  one  wilt  thou  find  with 
his  hands  at  sickle  or  plough  or  pruning-hook  —  I  care 
not  what  thou  namest !  —  no,  not  from  Chorazin  unto 
Tabor!" 

v  But,  my  son,  the  ancient  laws  .  .  ." 

"  Laws !  Laws !  What  know  I  of  laws  ?  High- 
priest  thou  at  Jerusalem, —  I  Judas  of  Kerioth,  that 
trimmeth  vines  at  a  penny  a  day, —  aye,  at  half  penny, 
work  being  slack,  and  the  house  without  milk,  whereat 
my  youngest,  Prisca,  waileth  the  night  through.  But 
what  carest  thou !  —  hast  ever  heard  thy  children  cry 
of  hunger  in  the  night?  For  all  thy  learned  sayings, 
I  tell  thee  to  thy  face  No  —  No  —  No!" 

And  yet  Judas  trembled  before  the  great  priest  with 
an  unconquerable  awe  of  his  wealth  and  rank.  He 


254  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

fumbled  his  sheepskin  cap  in  his  big  black  hands,  rolled 
his  glistening  little  eyes,  and  shuffled  his  feet  uneasily 
on  the  splendid  floor. 

He  gripped  his  hairy  jaw  tight.  The  coarse  skin 
of  his  low,  undeveloped  forehead  puckered  into  ridges. 
He  was  as  one  who  momently  expects  to  be  destroyed 
for  his  temerity.  But  he  continued  to  shake  his  head. 

Annas  employed  every  art  of  persuasion,  studying 
his  man  meantime.  Once  or  twice  he  exchanged  glances 
with  that  shadowy  figure  behind  him.  His  white  hand 
fell  with  a  benignant  firmness  on  the  bag-keeper's  un- 
easy shoulder. 

"  Thou  sayest  truth,  Judas  my  son.  Naught  of 
laws  knowest  thou!  Else  how  couldest  thou  have  risen 
up  in  wicked  rebellion  against  those  whom  God  hath  put 
in  authority  ?  " 

"  I  care  not ! "  cried  the  man.  "  I  care  not  a  fig ! 
A  poor  vine-dresser  I, —  thou  Highpriest!  I  can  no 
more  match  words  with  thee  than  pennies!  Thou  hast 
all, —  I  naught !  Thus  are  our  shares  portioned  unto 
us, —  though  the  kurios  saith  we  be  all  born  brethren !  " 

"  Thou  art  true  to  thy  friends  ?  " 

"Yea!" 

"  I  would  not  have  thee  otherwise !  But,  Judas,  mis- 
takenly thou  esteemest  that  carpenter  such  a  one." 

"  What  meanest  thou !  " 

"  Have  not  thine  eyes  been  opened  of  late  ?  " 

"  Oh, —  then  thou  hast  heard  perhaps  through  thy 
spies  how  that  he  suffered  the  woman  to  break  the  pre- 
cious box  of  alabaster  and  anoint  him, —  although  I 
as  tamias  did  protest,  and  most  righteously  too,  for  he 


THE  PASSOVER  255 

had  not  ought  to  have  taken  unto  himself  what  be- 
longed to  all  the  fellowship !  "  21 

Injured  indignation  sounded  in  the  bag-keeper's 
rough  voice.  "  He  rebuked  me !  And  yet  it  was  he 
that  was  in  the  wrong !  " 

Here  he  seemed  to  grow  aware  of  the  sly  smile  of 
Annas.  He  clapped  his  big  hand  to  his  own  unruly 
mouth.  But  it  was  too  late.  Annas  had  perceived  the 
vulnerable  point. 

"  Thou  sayest  it,  Judas !  Not  of  thee  nor  of  others 
doth  he  consider,  but  of  himself.  He  leadeth  you  to 
destruction  for  his  own  gain." 

"  Thou  canst  not  trick  me  thus !  Were  thy  words 
as  many  as  young  quail  in  lyyar  when  wheat  ripeneth, 
—  they  would  but  fly  over  my  head!  Learning  of 
schools !  I  will  but  say  no !  " 

"  He  that  answereth  a  matter  before  he  heareth  it, 
it  is  folly  and  shame  unto  him." 

"  I'll  not  listen !  Thou'lt  entangle  me  with  clever 
words ! " 

He  did  listen,  however,  frowning  and  shaking  his 
shaggy  head. 

"  A  simple  labourer  art  thou,  Judas, —  honest,  kindly 
of  heart,  meaning  well  to  all.  Wittingly  thou  wouldst 
not  rob  or  slay  any  man." 

"  Words !  Learned  words !  But  only  words ! " 
muttered  Judas. 

"  Thou  wouldst  not  wrongfully  take  a  copper  lepton 
of  another!" 

"  Nay,  this  hand  laboureth  hard  for  what  cometh 
therein!  Rich  Phanuel's  son  sitteth  easefully  in  shade 


256  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

and  hath  lepta  a  plenty.  I  that  toil  in  his  vineyard 
under  the  sun  have  scarce  wherewithal  to  feed  my  little 
ones ! " 

"  But  now  see  how  I  shall  unfold  to  thee  thine  error. 
Thine  ignorance  leadeth  thee  into  crimes.  Thy  good- 
ness of  heart  is  imposed  upon  by  designing  men." 

"  Nay,  I  stand  for  the  poor !  We  will  have  no  more 
poor !  All  men  shall  be  brethren  —  no  man  master !  " 

"  Why,  even  now  thou  blasphemest,  my  son.  Do  not 
the  Scriptures  say,  *  The  rich  and  poor  meet  together : 
the  Lord  is  the  maker  of  them  all '  ?  Wouldst  thou 
then  change  what  the  Lord  hath  made  ?  " 

"  By  this  head,  I  know  not !  —  a  poor  vine-dres- 
ser I!" 

Judas  tugged  distractedly  at  his  black  beard. 

61  Thou  followest  this  loud-speaking  carpenter  be- 
cause he  proclaimeth  good  tidings  to  the  poor, —  free- 
dom to  slaves."  Annas  lifted  up  his  face  in  an  attitude 
of  pity  and  despair  which  his  long,  snowy  beard  and 
priestly  garments  made  strangely  impressive  under  the 
dim  mystical  light.  "  O  thou  all-seeing  One !  How 
long  wilt  thou  suffer  thy  people  to  be  continually  de- 
luded! How  long  wilt  thou  suffer  self-seekers  to  be- 
guile Israel  with  false  hopes  in  order  to  gain  for  them- 
selves power  and  riches!  Have  not  these  eyes  beheld 
first  one  then  another  ambitious  fellow  starting  up! 
Have  they  not  all  equally  promised  freedom  to  slaves, — 
riches  to  beggars, —  all  things  unto  all  men, —  if  only 
thereby  they  might  attain  their  own  ends !  " 

"  Our  kurios  is  not  of  that  sort." 

"  Is  he  not?     Did  not  the  multitude  acclaim  him  Son 


THE  PASSOVER  257 

of  David?  Did  they  not  fling  up  their  caps  and  shout, 
'  Blessed  be  the  King  that  cometh  in  the  Lord's  name '? 
And  did  he  rebuke  them?  " 

"  Over  and  over  again,  on  the  highways,  in  the  fields, 
he  hath  said  unto  us  .  .  ." 

"  That  he  seeketh  not  his  own  glory  but  the  people's 
good.  O  thou  simple  Judas!  Is  not  yet  that  ancient 
lie  outworn?  So  Abimelech  declared  himself  of  old 
time!  And  Absalom!  And  Jeroboam!  So  likewise 
Theudas !  And  that  Judas  of  Galilee  who  rebelled  in  the 
days  of  the  taxing!  So  have  all  seditious  leaders  who 
would  set  up  a  new  kingdom  proclaimed  themselves,  to 
draw  men  unto  them.  And  so  have  deluded  ones  like 
unto  thee,  my  son,  believed  on  them." 

"  Nay,  I  do  believe  on  him !  Thou  tanglest  me  in 
words!  But  I  believe  on  him!  He  is  no  shedder  of 
blood !  He  pitieth  the  wrongs  of  the  poor !  I  am  poor ! 
All  my  days  have  I  laboured  hard  under  the  sun  — 
while  the  son  of  rich  Phanuel  sitteth  easefully  in  shade 
and  receiveth  the  chief  fruits  of  my  labour!  Nay, 
Jesus  hath  done  no  wrong!  He  hath  committed  no 
fault !  Yet  are  ye  rich  ones  all  banded  against  him !  " 

Annas  appeared  suddenly  much  astonished. 

"  What  sayest  thou !  —  the  carpenter  hath  committed 
no  fault!" 

**  He  hath  broken  no  law !  Thou  canst  not  name 
a  fault  he  hath  committed, —  save  only  to  pity  the  poor 
that  carry  the  rich  upon  their  backs ! " 

The  priest's  astonishment  seemed  to  increase  as  he 
listened. 

"Why,  if  this  be  true,  Judas  .  .  ." 


258  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

"  By  my  head,  it  is  true !  " 

"  Nay,  then,  what  f earest  thou  ?  Thou  knowest  of 
a  surety  we  be  law-abiding  men.  It  is  not  we  who 
stir  up  lawlessness !  We  but  uphold  the  law.  Thou 
knowest  what  safeguards  are  flung  by  the  law  about 
the  accused  person.  Hast  thou  not  heard,  *  If  any 
witness  shall  destroy  one  soul  out  of  Israel,  it  is  as  if 
he  had  destroyed  the  world,  and  he  who  saves  one,  as 
if  he  had  saved  the  world? '  If  then  the  law  find  no 
fault  in  Jesus,  what  power  have  we  against  him!  We 
can  but  release  him." 

"  Ye  seek  his  death  only !  " 

Ignoring  the  ejaculation  Annas  earnestly  contin- 
ued,— 

"  Lo,  now !  What  a  triumph  for  thy  carpenter ! 
Let  him  be  declared  by  the  Sanhedrim  to  be  innocent 
of  crime,  and  all  men  —  we  also  —  will  hear  him !  It 
may  be  that  here  in  Jerusalem  we  have  imagined  a  wrong 
thing.  We  thought  this  Jesus  to  be  such  another  one  as 
those  former  innovators  seeking  glory,  riches,  and 
power.  They  begin  softly.  They  pity  the  people's 
wrongs,  stirring  up  discontent.  As  they  grow  in 
favour  and  gather  the  hearts  of  many  men  unto  them, 
they  oppose  openly  those  in  authority.  They  preach  a 
new  kingdom, —  not  that  they  themselves  would  wear  a 
crown !  —  no,  they  are  moved  but  by  indignation  for 
the  people,  the  poor,  the  oppressed!  Ah,  God,  how 
they  pity  the  poor!  They  shed  tears  over  them.  At 
length,  having  increased  the  number  of  their  followers, 
they  seize  arms.  They  drench  the  land  in  blood.  They 
burn  houses,  lay  desolate  the  fields,  spread  death  and 


THE  PASSOVER  259 

pillage  throughout  the  towns  —  all  out  of  pity  for  the 
poor!  Thus  with  bloody  steps  they  stride  upward  to 
a  throne.  But  having  won  it, —  where  then  are  their 
former  promises !  The  land  groaneth  under  new  bur- 
dens !  Such  an  one  have  we  imagined  thy  carpenter  to 
be.  Thou  sayest  thou  believest  .  .  ." 

"  I  do  believe  on  him ! "  cried  Judas  with  desperation. 
"  All  these  wise  words  I  know  not !  Only  I  know  him 
to  be  not  such  an  one !  " 

"  Thy  fears  much  belie  thy  words  .  .  .  And  there 
was  that  costly  alabaster  box  which  he  took  unto  him- 
self,—  nay,  thou  thyself  spakest  of  it,  Judas !  Was 
that  as  one  thinking  only  of  the  poor?  Thou  darest 
not  put  him  to  the  test." 

"  Not  a  word  more !  "  muttered  the  peasant  hoarsely, 
pressing  his  black  fist  against  his  mouth.  '*  I  say  not 
a  word  more !  Some  devil  was  in  my  tongue !  " 

"  Must  we  then  call  in  the  Roman  soldiery  to  slay  ? 
For  we  who  have  the  law  to  uphold  must  be  faithful  to 
our  trust.  And  we  conceive  this  Jesus  to  be  bloody- 
minded  and  full  of  evil  designs  against  the  Law.  Wilt 
thou  by  keeping  silence  permit  this  to  be  done?  Yea, 
when  one  word  of  thine  might  spare  this  sea  of  blood, — 
might  prove  thy  leader  to  be  without  evil, —  might  estab- 
lish his  triumph  in  peace ! " 

He  waited. 

But  the  Galilean  only  muttered  and  continued  to 
press  his  blackened  knuckles  against  his  mouth. 

"  Still  art  thou  silent  ?  "  said  Annas  sternly. 

His  voice  deepened  like  a  storm  of  immense  fury 
that  hung  suspended  in  air,  about  to  burst.  He  raised 


260  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

himself  to  his  fullest  stature  and  towered  high  above 
the  cringing  bag-keeper.  His  splendid  eyes  burning 
upon  the  poor  man's  face  abased  him  to  the  very 
earth.  The  white  hand  pointed  upward  out  of  its 
snowy  sleeve  as  if  to  draw  down  the  wrath  of  God  upon 
such  a  monstrous  sinner.  On  the  upstretched  finger 
the  ruby  flashed  like  a  red  angry  star. 

"  Unhappy  man !  Thou  makest  thyself  to  be  the 
ruin  of  this  nation !  Whether  the  Nazarene  be  innocent 
or  guilty, —  thou  —  thou  coverest  thyself  with  the 
blood  of  thy  slaughtered  brethren  as  with  a  gar- 
ment!" 

Judas  dashed  down  his  sheepskin  cap  in  an  ecstasy 
of  bewilderment.  He  began  to  pluck  at  the  black  tangle 
of  hair  on  the  sides  of  his  head  over  his  ears. 

"  Thou  hast  entangled  me !  I  knew  thou  wouldst ! 
I  knew  it!  I  knew  it!  Thou  hast  pushed  me  into  a 
pit !  I  am  lost  —  lost  —  lost !  " 

At  that  wild  cry,  the  impending  storm  was  hushed. 
Annas  laid  a  fatherly  hand  on  the  wretch's  shoulder. 
His  voice  grew  wonderfully  soft  and  sweet. 

"  But  if  thou  aidest  us  who  would  establish  law  and 
order, —  behold  how  happy  thy  lot!  Thou  savest  the 
innocent  blood.  If  thy  faith  be  justified  in  this  teacher 
of  new  things, —  thou  givest  him  the  triumph.  All  men 
will  rise  up  and  call  thee  blessed.  Honours  and  riches 
will  descend  upon  thee  as  rain.  Who  will  be  like  unto 
Judas  in  that  new  kingdom !  Thou  hast  been  ever  a 
humble  worker  —  hast  tilled  —  hast  trimmed  vines, — 
and  who  hath  thought  to  do  thee  honour !  But  now  thou 
who  wast  last  among  men  shalt  be  first." 


THE  PASSOVER  261 

"  Nay,  his  very  words ! "  Judas  muttered,  confused, 
staring  hard  at  the  floor.  "  His  own  words !  He  did 
say  it !  And  I  have  laboured  hard.  And  others  have 
lived  easef ully  upon  my  back  —  rich  Phanuel  and  now 
his  son.  If  ever  I  got  a  copper  lepton  I  paid  for  it 
in  sweat.'* 

"  If  thou  consent  now  to  save  the  people  from  the 
Roman  sword,  thy  evil  days  will  have  passed  like  a 
dream.  In  that  new  kingdom  thou  shalt  sit  in  high 
places.  Thou  shalt  sit  amongst  the  rulers  judging 
men." 

"  I  ask  not  for  your  high  places,"  he  muttered  in  the 
same  stupid,  dazed  way.  "  I  am  none  of  your  learned 
ones, —  to  be  ever  judging  others.  I  ask  but  for  a 
vineyard  of  mine  own.  So  I  be  not  forced  to  yield  the 
fruits  of  my  labour  unto  Phanuel's  son  that  doeth 
naught.  A  little  vineyard  of  mine  own,  set  about  with 
trees.  Three  acres  in  mine  own  right  .  .  .  My  very 
own!  —  God!  Well  fenced  with  prickly  pear  .  .  . 
And  a  good  winepress  digged  ...  So  might  my  chil- 
dren play  about  me  as  I  toil.  Little  Prisca  singing  and 
running  with  loose  hair  .  .  .  And  not  too  far  from 
market.  Near  market  maketh  short  haul  .  .  ." 

The  audible  sounds  ceased,  but  still  his  lips  moved. 
He  stood  staring  down  at  his  feet  and  struggling  amid 
thick  doubts.  His  thumbs,  splayed  and  black-nailed, 
rubbed  continually  together,  while  his  slow  wits  wrestled. 

Into  the  clearer  light  came  suddenly  a  pale  skull-like 
head.  That  shadowy  figure  in  sombre  garments,  which 
had  been  hovering  behind  Annas,  had  leaned  forward. 
A  long  fleshless  arm  and  hand  thrust  forth.  A  well- 


262  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

filled  purse  clinked  with  a  silvery  tinkle.  It  pushed 
against  Judas's  thick,  groping,  uncertain  thumbs. 

Said  a  low  hissing  voice, — 

"  That  vineyard  thou  mayest  buy  even  now.  Why 
wait  ?  Did  he  wait  when  he  took  the  alabaster  box  unto 
himself?  " 

And  those  coarse  hands  which  had  learned  in  the  bitter 
school  of  poverty  to  grasp  for  every  penny,  opened,  as 
it  were  unconsciously,  to  receive. 

"  True,"   whispered  the  bag-keeper. 

In  the  still  air  of  the  council-chamber  were  heard  only 
the  faint  jingle  of  coins  and  the  bag-keeper's  deep  la- 
borious breaths. 

Afar,  in  the  outer  precinct  of  the  Temple,  sounded 
now  and  then  the  clear  accents  of  him  who  proclaimed 
to  the  crowds  the  new  kingdom. 


WHEN  Hyrcanus  at  last  escaped  unobserved 
from  the  Lishcath-ha-gazith  to  the  Gentile 
Court,  the  crowd  was  gone.     On  his  return  to 
the  inn,  he  learned  from  Nadab  that  Pilate,  the  Proc- 
urator, would  sit  in  judgment  on  the  Friday  morning 
before  the  Passover. 

He  busied  himself  therefore  on  Tuesday  and  Wednes- 
day in  perfecting  his  plot  to  rescue  Barabbas  at  the 
bema  or  judgment-seat. 

It  was  evident  meantime  that  the  enthusiasm  for  the 
new  kingdom  was  spreading  everywhere  among  the 
common  people  like  flame  through  dry  stubble.  A  revo- 
lution impended  which  awaited  only  a  bold  call  from 
the  carpenter  to  precipitate  itself  upon  the  ruling  class 
of  Jerusalem. 

As  Hyrcanus  perceived  the  drift  of  talk  in  the  mar- 
ket-places and  the  excited  spirit  of  the  multitude,  he 
began  to  chafe  at  the  delay. 

"  Now  is  the  time !  "  he  said  to  himself,  invoking  the 
empty  air  as  if  the  carpenter  stood  before  him.  "  Let 
thy  kingdom  come !  If  thereby  Barabbas  is  saved  with- 
out my  hand,  verily  I  could  fall  down  and  worship  thee 
as  a  god !  Save  Barabbas !  Save  me !  " 

But  the  call  did  not  sound.  The  nation  hung  quiver- 
ing in  the  balances.  It  seemed  indeed  that  he  who  had 
ventured  thus  far  against  the  constituted  authorities 

263 


264  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

shrank  from  the  final  step.  The  emissaries  of  Annas 
sought  desperately  meanwhile  to  divide  the  people  on 
unessential  issues  —  an  old  trick  of  statecraft.  They 
would  have  stirred  up  public  disputes  on  religious  dif- 
ferences touching  the  resurrection  and  the  great  com- 
mandment of  the  law.  Jesus  contented  himself  with 
defeating  these  efforts. 

A  singular  anger  possessed  Hyrcanus  as  each  night 
beheld  no  change  in  the  established  government,  that 
the  day  had  brought  forth. 

"  Thou  mightest  save  me  if  thou  wouldst !  "  he  cried 
with  despair. 

Came  the  eve  of  unleavened  bread,  the  Preparation 
for  the  Passover. 

Hyrcanus  had  completed  his  arrangements  for  the 
desperate  attempt  of  the  morrow.  His  robbers  had  re- 
ceived final  instructions  as  to  how  they  were  to  mingle 
with  the  crowd  at  the  Pretorium  and  at  his  signal  draw 
their  swords  and  fall  suddenly  upon  the  guards. 

After  dark,  as  he  walked  through  the  deserted  streets, 
he  heard  within  the  shut  houses  the  joyous  singing  of 
the  Hillel.  He  was  oppressed  by  heaviness  of  spirit,  a 
foreboding  of  disaster,  such  as  he  had  never  known  be- 
fore. 

Stars  burned  in  the  mist-veiled  sky  with  a  soft  mar- 
vellous splendour.  At  intervals  one  or  another  fell, 
shooting  down  behind  the  dark  summit  of  Olivet.  The 
new  moon  hung  like  a  shallow  dish  above  the  Holy  of 
Holies,  whose  golden  turrets  faintly  glistened. 

Hyrcanus  had  entered  that  narrow,  crooked  street 
afterwards  called  the  Via  Dolorosa,  when  a  considerable 


THE  PASSOVER  265 

troop  of  men  walking  rapidly  without  lights  came  around 
a  corner  from  the  south. 

He  slipped  quickly  into  the  black  shadow  of  a  gate. 

They  came  on  and  passed  the  gate  without  perceiving 
him. 

These  night-walkers  were  neither  rabble  nor  soldiers, 
but  substantial  citizens  of  Jerusalem.  Under  the 
glimpses  of  the  moon  they  seemed  to  number  some 
thirty  in  all,  vigorous  men,  everyone  armed  after  some 
sort,  with  staff  or  sword,  or  both.  Their  garments 
showed  them  to  be  chiefly  Pharisees,  the  prosperous 
merchant  and  trading  class,  although  here  and  there 
might  be  noted  a  princely  Sadducee  and  three  or  four 
upper  servants. 

They  hurried  along  towards  the  Upper  City,  pre- 
serving a  marked  degree  of  silence,  like  men  bound 
upon  a  stern  errand.  But  above  the  clatter  of  feet  on 
the  stones  a  repressed  voice  was  audible  speaking  a 
name, — 

"  Annas." 

The  curiosity  of  Hyrcanus  was  sharply  pricked. 
Possessed  by  the  thought  of  his  own  perilous  plot,  he 
feared  this  hidden  manoeuvre  might  in  some  manner  be 
aimed  against  it. 

While  he  stood  in  doubt  what  to  do,  another  band 
turned  the  corner  and  came  on  quietly  after  the  first. 
One  carried  a  flaming  link  which  revealed  this  second 
company  to  be  composed  of  sergeants  of  the  Temple. 
The  sergeants  of  the  Temple  were  an  organised  body, 
a  kind  of  militia,  which  had  in  charge  the  guarding  of 
the  Temple  area. 


266 

The  advancing  torchlight  swept  the  shadows  out  of 
every  nook  and  angle  along  the  street.  Hyrcanus 
could  not  remain  in  the  gate  without  detection.  He 
wrapped  his  cloak  about  him  and  followed  after  the 
first  band  like  one  who  had  straggled. 

Thus  he  found  himself  pledged  unexpectedly  to  the 
enterprise.  For  as  the  second  troop,  hurrying,  caught 
up  with  the  rear  ranks  of  the  other,  Hyrcanus  became 
involved  in  the  midst. 

But  although  several  cast  sharp  looks  at  the  grey 
Babylonian  costume,  no  man  questioned  him.  Each 
troop  imagined  him  to  belong  to  the  other. 

They  came  to  the  house  of  Annas,  which  stood  on 
the  eastern  slope  of  the  Upper  City  near  by  the  larger 
official  residence  of  the  Highpriest  Caiaphas.  The 
door  opened  to  them  without  parley,  and  they  filed  into 
the  flag-paved  court. 

Here  were  assembled  about  two  hundred  men,  armed 
in  like  manner  with  swords  and  staves.  The  flaming 
link,  held  aloft,  flung  across  their  stern  features  shaky 
streaks  of  light.  Everywhere  emerged  from  darkness 
swift  visions  of  gripped  lips  and  knitted  brows. 

These  were  not  the  faces  of  underlings  —  of  common 
bailiffs,  sharked  up  from  the  lower  order  of  the  popu- 
lace to  perform  some  commonplace  police  service  for 
the  rulers.  These  were  the  well-nourished  faces  of  mem- 
bers of  the  upper  and  middle  classes,  the  bulwark  of  the 
ancient  institutions  of  Israel,  the  patriotic  defenders 
of  the  law. 

They  had  assembled  for  some  daring  deed. 

In  the  paved  court,  under  the  stars,  they  waited. 


THE  PASSOVER  267 

The  night  was  cold.  They  stood  muffled  to  the  chin, 
spoke  seldom  to  one  another,  and  continually  watched 
the  doors  of  the  house.  Something  extraordinary 
seemed  to  be  expected. 

Meantime  a  council  was  being  held  inside  the  house. 
Three  or  four  belated  members  of  the  Sanhedrim  came 
hurriedly  through  the  court  and  went  in.  Messengers 
appeared  and  disappeared,  swiftly  coming  and  going. 
Doors  swung  open  and  shut,  venting  brief  glimpses  of 
the  candle-lighted  interior. 

By  those  glimpses  Caiaphas  was  seen  to  be  making 
some  speech.  He  stood  up  and  violently  gestured  with 
one  hand;  with  the  other  he  clutched  tightly  a  fold  of 
his  rich  blue  robe.  His  full  red  lips  moved  to  rapid 
utterance,  not  loud,  but  passionate. 

Beyond,  appeared  the  lofty  troubled  countenance  of 
Annas,  framed  in  its  wealth  of  snowy  hair.  And  again, 
behind  and  around  Annas  were  recognisable  many  faces 
of  the  great,  rich,  and  powerful  of  the  realm. 

An  elusive  outline  of  a  head  showed  itself  at  mo- 
ments, far  back  in  the  dusky  corner.  Phantastic  and 
unreal,  it  seemed  to  crane  forward  out  of  the  shadow, 
with  fleshless  finger  at  play  on  the  pale  sunken  cheek, — 
listening  —  looking. 

After  a  quarter  of  an  hour  of  this  excited  suspense, 
two  newcomers  were  admitted  at  the  gate.  There  was 
no  general  sound  or  movement  to  indicate  the  importance 
of  this  arrival;  but  somehow  it  was  felt  instantly  that 
this  was  what  had  been  waited  for ;  —  an  intense  some- 
thing in  these  two  dark  figures  slipping  through  the 
crowded  court  up  to  the  door  glued  all  eyes  upon  them. 


268  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

As  they  entered  at  the  doorway,  the  light  rushed 
suddenly  full  against  their  faces. 

One  man  was  seen  to  be  Malchus,  the  Highpriest's 
servant. 

That  other,  who  vainly  shrank  from  the  glare  with 
up-flung  elbow, —  that  other,  whose  pallid,  perspiring 
features  glistened  wet, —  was  the  bag-keeper. 

They  passed  in.     The  door  shut  to. 

Another  wait  followed. 

Then  the  door  opened,  and  Annas  came  forth,  and  all 
that  numerous  and  lordly  throng  which  had  been  taking 
council  within. 

A  grave  gesture  by  Annas  checked  the  mutter  of 
applause  that  greeted  him.  He  drew  himself  up  to 
his  full  majestic  height,  so  that  he  towered  like  Saul 
above  all  those  around  him.  Silent  a  little  while,  he 
stood  in  the  light  of  the  torches  and  gazed  into  the 
determined  faces  of  the  gathered  patriots.  At  last  he 
spread  out  over  them  his  white  hands.  His  voice, 
tremulous  with  emotion,  sounded  strangely  low  and  deep. 

"  The  Lord  upholdeth  the  righteous.  My  children, 
into  your  charge  is  committed  the  destiny  of  Israel  this 
night.  Upon  you  dependeth  our  salvation, —  whether 
our  ancient  law,  our  rights  and  privileges,  bestowed 
upon  us  by  the  Most  High,  shall  prevail,  or  whether 
they  shall  be  trampled  underfoot  by  an  irresponsible 
rabble." 

A  fervent  sound,  like  the  solemn  tones  of  a  strong 
wind  blowing  among  cedars,  murmured  through  the 
dense  ranks.  Weapons  were  silently  lifted  and  shaken. 

"  We  cry  unto  thee,  O  Lord,"  said  Annas,  raising  his 


THE  PASSOVER  269 

tear-wet  eyes  to  the  starry  heavens.  "  Remember,  O 
Lord,  what  is  come  upon  us !  Consider,  and  behold  our 
reproach!  Our  inheritance  is  turned  to  strangers,  our 
houses  to  aliens!  Servants  have  ruled  over  us!  There 
is  none  to  deliver  us  out  of  their  hand ! " 

He  covered  his  face  a  moment,  then  turned  and  in- 
dicated Malchus. 

"  My  children,  behold  your  leader  and  guide.  Go 
forth  to  save  our  altars  and  our  laws!  Into  God's 
keeping  I  give  you." 

They  poured  quietly  out  of  the  court.  In  the  street 
before  the  house  they  halted  a  few  moments  to  form  a 
more  dense  and  regular  column.  Then  they  moved 
rapidly  down  northward. 

Jerusalem  slept  meantime;  under  the  high  moon  her 
walls  gleamed  faintly  white. 


VII 

MALCHUS,  with  a  perforated  lantern,  and  keep- 
ing the  traitor  at  his  side,  had  put  himself  at 
the  head  of  the  column.  It  moved  rapidly 
through  the  black,  silent  streets  to  the  Lower  City, 
turned  into  the  broad  military  way  between  the  Citadel 
and  the  Pretorium,  and  having  passed  the  grim  over- 
shadowing buttresses  of  Antonia,  wheeled  to  the  right 
into  the  squalid  defile  which  led  down  to  the  Sheep 
Gate. 

The  Gate  stood  open,  perhaps  by  private  understand- 
ing with  the  Procurator  or  an  under-officer.  The  armed 
optimates  poured  out  of  the  city  and  down  into  the 
deep,  desolate  Valley  of  Jehoshaphat. 

As  they  descended,  the  moonlight  failed.  Night 
seemed  to  close  in  more  thickly  about  them.  The  torches 
flared  smokily  backwards  on  the  bearers'  hands,  illu- 
minating the  dismal  path  with  a  lurid,  unsteady  flicker. 
From  the  holes  of  the  pierced  lantern  on  ahead,  shining 
rays  of  light  crept  along  the  sterile  earth  like  wriggling 
serpents.  A  howling  of  dogs  sounded  drearily  in  the 
walled  city  above  and  on  the  hills  around. 

Hollow  darkness  engulfed  the  living  like  the  dead. 
They  moved  among  myriads  of  grey  ancient  tombs.  A 
cold  air,  much  colder  than  the  usual  chill  of  night,  per- 
vaded that  place.  The  pouring  sound  of  footfalls  re- 
verberated with  a  startling  loudness  from  the  steep 

270 


THE  PASSOVER  371 

rocks.  It  was  as  if  legions  of  invisible  spirits  attended 
the  march. 

Soon,  for  Malchus  led  the  column  on  in  haste,  they 
had  crossed  the  dry  bed  of  the  Cedron  and  were  ascend- 
ing the  wooded  slope  of  Olivet.  They  began  to  pass 
rows  of  rough  little  booths  and  leathern  tents  pitched 
wherever  a  strip  of  level  earth  afforded  a  camping 
ground.  But  they  climbed  on  and  molested  none  of 
the  sleepers,  and  those  few  who  awoke  and  peered  out 
at  the  column  took  it  to  be  some  great  company  of 
feasters  returning  late  from  the  city. 

Thus  they  were  brought  at  last  to  a  fenced  place,  an 
abandoned  olive-garden,  called  Gethsemane  or  Old 
Presses. 

Within  this  enclosure  many  poor  people  having  no 
better  resource  had  erected  rude  shelters  or  lay  upon 
the  ground  under  the  open  sky.  The  night  was  far 
advanced.  Deep  sleep  had  fallen  upon  them.  But 
as  Malchus  and  his  armed  helpers  rushed  in,  seized  and 
dragged  roughly  forward  first  one  then  another,  and 
flashed  the  lights  into  their  faces,  a  confused  uproar 


Voices  made  shriller  by  fear  cried  out.  Dismayed 
figures  in  Galilean  garments  started  up  from  the  shad- 
owy ground  on  all  sides.  The  flicker  of  naked  steel 
threw  panic  into  the  hearts  of  these  humble  labouring 
people,  unaccustomed  to  warlike  weapons.  They  would 
have  scattered  like  chickens  before  the  midnight  in- 
vaders, but  the  enclosed  place  forbade.  They  were 
dragged  and  pushed  together  in  a  herd,  while  the  women 
shrieked  and  terrified  children  screamed. 


272 

"  Not  that  one !  Not  that  one !  "  cried  Malchus,  run- 
ning and  raging  among  them,  poking  his  lantern  into 
each  frightened  face. 

A  figure  stepped  forth  into  the  ruddy  blaze  of  the 
torches. 

"  Whom  seek  ye  ?  "  he  asked. 

**  Jesus  of  Nazareth ! "  a  loud  voice  shouted. 

"  I  am  he." 

It  was  the  carpenter.  He  was  haggard  and  very 
pale.  But  his  large  dark  eyes  were  wide  and  shining, 
and  a  singular  calm  seemed  to  dwell  upon  his  face. 

A  kind  of  stupor  struck  his  captors  apparently  at 
this  unexpected  declaration.  Meanwhile  the  scared 
and  unharmed  Galileans  seized  the  opportunity  and  be- 
gan to  escape.  They  went  back  out  of  the  reach  of  the 
torchlight,  flung  themselves  flat  on  the  ground,  and 
crawled  away.  He  was  left  standing  there  almost  alone. 

"Whom  seek  ye?  "  he  inquired  again,  perceiving  the 
general  astonishment. 

"  Jesus  of  Nazareth !  " 

"  I  have  told  you  that  I  am  he.  If  therefore  ye  seek 
me,  let  these  go  their  way." 

He  had  given  himself  for  his  followers. 

Malchus  recovering  from  the  stupefaction  laid  hands 
upon  the  carpenter  and  called  to  bring  cords  and  bind 
him. 

But  even  amongst  those  unwarlike  labourers  was  one 
that  could  not  thus  desert  his  kuriop.  Simon  Barjona 
rushed  at  Malchus  with  a  loud  shout  and  sword  up- 
raised. He  hewed  a  tremendous  but  awkward  blow  at 
him  which  smote  off  his  ear. 


THE  PASSOVER  273 

The  Highpriest's  servant  staggered  back  half  a  dozen 
paces,  reeling  and  crying  out,  while  the  blood  gushed 
over  his  cheek  and  neck.  But  as  the  stout  fisherman 
would  have  followed  up  this  stroke,  Jesus  himself 
stopped  him. 

"  Put  up  thy  sword  into  the  sheath !  The  cup  which 
my  Father  hath  given  me,  shall  I  not  drink  it?  " 

And  Simon,  thus  rebuked  by  the  very  one  he  sought 
to  rescue,  paused  and  lowered  his  weapon,  bewildered. 

He  beheld  the  throng  of  optimates  rushing  with 
sharp,  bright  sword-points  to  slay  him.  His  heart  failed 
him,  and  he  turned  to  flee. 

It  would  have  been  too  late.  A  Pharisee  and  a  ser- 
geant of  the  Temple  were  almost  upon  him.  But  a  tall 
man  in  grey  Babylonian  garb  who  also  came  running 
in  pursuit  thrust  out  his  foot  as  if  by  accident,  colliding 
with  the  other  two,  and  they  all  stumbled  and  fell,  and 
Barjona  escaped  into  the  darkness. 

Malchus  although  sorely  wounded  would  allow  no 
delay.  The  optimates  bound  Jesus  and  hastened  their 
march  back  to  the  city. 

The  fear  was  upon  them  that  the  midnight  uproar 
at  Gethsemane  and  the  appeals  of  those  who  had  es- 
caped would  arouse  the  multitude  to  run  together  and 
rescue  the  Nazarene. 

The  prisoner  was  driven  and  prodded  down  the  hill, 
hedged  closely  about  by  half  a  hundred  of  the  better 
armed.  Lurking,  watchful  forms  were  already  to  be 
seen  in  the  darkness  around,  dodging  among  the  trees 
and  rocks.  Despair  made  the  followers  of  Jesus  so  bold 
that  one  young  man  ventured  close  upon  the  heels  of 


274  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

the  column ;  but  when  several  laid  hold  of  his  linen  gar- 
ment, he  slipped  out  of  it  and  fled  away  naked. 

As  the  carpenter,  with  his  arms  bound  painfully  be- 
hind him,  breasted  the  steep  ascent  towards  the  Sheep 
Gate,  he  lifted  his  bowed  head  once  and  looked  up  at 
the  oppressive  mass  of  the  dark  Temple  looming  above 
him.  He  was  silent. 

Through  the  Sheep  Gate,  where  entered  all  victims  to 
be  slaughtered  in  the  service  of  God,  they  drove  him  in. 

A  cold  wind  swept  the  black  empty  streets  of  Jeru- 
salem. Only  a  few  famished  dogs  were  to  be  seen  prowl- 
ing among  the  refuse.  A  kind  of  fury  of  joy  took 
hold  of  some  of  the  protectors  of  law  and  order  as  they 
found  themselves  safe  again  within  the  city-walls. 
They  spat  upon  the  presumptuous  anarch  who  had  so 
nearly  destroyed  their  sacred  institutions.  They  as- 
sailed him  with  curses  and  revilements.  Several,  too 
hot  with  hate  to  restrain  the  impulse,  struck  at  him  with 
fist  or  staff. 

But  still  they  hurried  him  on  and  brought  him  to  the 
house  of  Annas. 

It  had  been  decided  by  the  leaders  of  the  optimates  to 
dispose  of  the  rebel  according  to  established  forms  of 
law,  that  the  people  might  afterwards  have  no  pretext 
for  complaint.  In  order  that  the  greatest  possible 
odium  might  attach  to  his  memory,  the  procedure 
adopted  was  that  prescribed  against  a  mesith  or  se- 
ducer from  the  faith.22 

A  judicial  ambush  had  been  laid  for  him  in  the  house 
of  Annas.  He  was  led  into  a  room  where  he  appeared 
to  be  alone  with  Annas,  who  questioned  him  in  private 


THE  PASSOVER  275 

concerning  his  sayings.  But  two  witnesses  lay  con- 
cealed behind  a  partition.  Two  candles  stood  lighted 
near  him  on  the  table,  that  it  might  be  fully  established 
that  the  witnesses  saw  him. 

From  this  ordeal  the  prisoner  was  led  out  very  pale 
but  with  closed  lips. 

He  was  then  taken  to  the  palace  of  Caiaphas  hard  by, 
to  stand  trial  before  the  hastily  assembled  Sanhedrim. 

Late  as  was  the  hour,  a  crowd  of  humble  folk  who 
had  mysteriously  collected  from  the  slums  and  lower 
quarters  of  the  city,  already  lined  the  street.  The 
ruddy  torch-flare  lighted  up  their  ill-developed  faces, 
woe-begone,  horror-struck,  despairing.  Their  rags 
fluttering  in  the  wind,  they  hovered  about  the  well-fed 
defenders  of  government  and  religion  like  unclean  night- 
birds.  Their  cries,  shrill,  plaintive,  mingled  with  weep- 
ing, resembled  the  hunger-cry  of  owls.  Here  and  there 
could  be  seen  amongst  them  red  Galilean  garments. 

But  now  too  the  triumphant  Pharisees  and  optimates 
were  pouring  by  hundreds  into  the  street.  Emboldened 
by  this  momentous  capture  of  the  arch-anarch  in  like 
measure  as  his  own  adherents  were  disheartened  by  it, 
they  had  come  prepared  to  uphold  the  hands  of  the 
authorities. 

At  the  Highpriest's  door,  when  the  prisoner  was  led 
in,  the  patriots  drove  back  the  rabble  and  allowed  only 
the  better  sort  of  citizens  to  enter. 

In  the  high-roofed,  stone-paved  hall  or  atrium  of 
Caiaphas's  spacious  house,  a  charcoal  brazier  glowed 
on  an  iron  tripod.  The  guards,  as  they  came  in  out 
of  the  cold  wind,  crowded  around  the  fire  and  stretched 


876  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

their  palms  over  the  grateful  heat.  They  talked  freely 
with  the  privileged  ones  who  had  been  admitted  at  the 
door.  They  were  all  elated  by  the  night's  great  ex- 
ploit and  full  of  mirth. 

Meantime  the  prisoner  had  been  taken  into  an  inner 
room  before  the  Sanhedrim.  Many  spectators  crowded 
about  the  open  doorway,  so  that  it  was  with  difficulty 
that  messengers  of  the  court  could  go  and  come  bringing 
witnesses.  At  moments  inside  could  be  heard  excited 
voices,  and  the  throng  around  the  door  were  all  on  tiptoe, 
while  those  at  the  fire  stopped  their  talk  and  laughter 
to  listen,  till  the  sounds  diminished  again. 

A  considerable  time  elapsed. 

Presently  a  rough  man  with  red  hair  and  beard  and 
big  brown  fists,  who  had  gained  admission  to  the  hall 
somehow,  came  and  elbowed  his  way  to  the  brazier. 

Several  of  those  standing  there  looked  sharply  at 
him.  None  seemed  to  know  him.  But  he  with  assur- 
ance spread  out  his  coarse  paws  to  the  heat  and  looked 
grimly  upon  the  coals.  At  last  a  sergeant  of  the  Tem- 
ple pushed  him  a  little,  saying, — 

"  Art  not  thou  also  one  of  his  followers?  "  and  pointed 
his  thumb  over  his  shoulder  towards  the  inner  room. 

"  Man,  I  am  not,"  growled  the  stranger. 

They  were  not  convinced,  however,  and  continued  to 
look  suspiciously  at  him.  Then  one,  a  kinsman  of  Mal- 
chus,  spoke  up: 

"  Of  a  truth  this  fellow  also  was  with  him, —  for  he 
is  a  Galilean !  " 

"  Man,  I  know  not  what  thou  sayest ! "  exclaimed 
the  stranger  loudly,  with  a  violent  oath. 


THE  PASSOVER  277 

As  he  spoke,  frowning,  his  face  changed  and  he  de- 
parted. 

In  the  court  below  sounded  the  shrill  crowing  of  a 
cock. 

It  was  already  schachar  or  the  beginning  of  dawn. 
A  new  day  was  creeping  on  the  world.  A  grey  light 
was  spreading  through  the  windows  and  along  the  cold 
stone  walls,  that  dimmed  the  flicker  of  the  candles. 


VIII 

THE  desperate  peril  of  their  property  and  priv- 
ileges impelled  the  optimates  to  the  boldest  tac- 
tics in  order  to  obtain  the  intervention  of  the 
Roman  soldiers. 

They  had  decided  on  a  plan  whereby  they  hoped  to 
force  the  hand  of  the  Procurator,  Pontius  Pilate,  and 
compel  him  to  assume  jurisdiction  of  the  criminal  be- 
fore the  excitement  of  the  multitude  over  the  arrest  of 
Jesus  precipitated  the  revolution. 

To  this  end  all  that  went  before  was  only  preliminary. 
Nothing  but  the  merest  pretence  of  regularity  was  ob- 
served at  the  trial  before  the  Sanhedrim,  because  this 
was  not  to  be  the  real  tribunal.  It  was  conducted  for 
the  sole  purpose  of  delivering  the  prisoner  with  proper 
formality  into  the  hands  of  Pilate  and  there  lodging  a 
charge  of  sedition  against  him. 

Pilate's  reluctance  to  intervene  was  already  a  matter 
of  common  knowledge,  as  also  his  reasons.  A  federal 
power  is  always  slow  to  intervene  in  the  purely  local 
quarrels  of  a  subject  state,  and  the  Imperator  Tiberius, 
cautious,  peace-loving,  had  shown  marked  disfavour  for 
meddlesome  provincial  governors.  Moreover  the  po- 
litical wiles  of  Annas  had  several  times  embroiled  Pilate 
with  his  master  at  Rome,  notably  in  the  affair  of  the 
aqueduct  and  of  Caesar's  effigies.  There  was  bad  blood 

between  the  Procurator  and  the  local  authorities. 

278 


THE  PASSOVER  279 

But  the  optimates  believed  they  had  a  means  of  bring- 
ing about  the  desired  intervention  in  spite  of  Pilate's 
reluctance. 

They  haled  their  captive  through  the  streets  to  the 
Pretorium.  A  great  crowd  of  their  own  adherents  dom- 
inated all  the  ways  and  market-places.  The  conserva- 
tive elements  of  Jerusalem,  the  representatives  of 
property  and  wealth,  and  their  dependents,  had  rallied 
in  astonishing  numbers.  The  opposition,  scattered  and 
dismayed  for  the  moment,  dared  not  lift  its  head. 

It  was  a  little  after  sunrise  when  Jesus,  prodded  from 
the  rear,  was  driven  up  the  steps  of  the  marble  pronaos 
of  Pilate's  official  residence,  a  former  palace  of  Herod 
adjoining  the  citadel  of  Antonia.23  The  morning  was 
the  fourteenth  of  Nisan,  Friday  —  the  day  the  pascal 
lamb  was  to  be  eaten. 

His  accusers  drove  him  up  the  steps  into  the  hands 
of  a  file  of  soldiers  posted  in  the  portico  at  the  entrance 
to  the  judgment  hall.  But  they  themselves  remained 
outside,  being  already  purified  for  the  Passover.  They 
must  not  defile  themselves, —  those  pious  enemies  of 
immorality. 

They  swarmed  against  the  base  of  the  steps  and 
raised  a  shrill  deafening  clamour  for  justice.  Their 
intense  figures  surged  about  the  vacant  sella  curulis  or 
magisterial  chair,  which  stood  on  the  raised  pavement, 
called  the  Gabbatha,  in  the  open  space  before  the  Pre- 
torium. All  the  environs  were  flooded  with  the  aristo- 
cratic mob  in  the  loose,  gaudy  drapery  of  the  East. 
But  among  them  might  here  and  there  be  seen  certain 
darker-faced  men  attired  as  shepherds  of  Perea  or  car- 


280  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

avan  guards,  who  worked  their  way  quietly  to  the  fore. 

After  delay,  for  he  was  already  engaged  in  the  trial 
of  Barabbas,  came  Pontius  Pilate  clothed  in  the  toga 
praetexta  or  purple-bordered  robe  of  his  office  and  at- 
tended by  six  lictors  who  bore  long-shafted  axes  bound 
about  with  bundles  of  rods. 

A  well-made  full  man  was  Pilate, —  mature  but  in 
the  prime  of  life.  His  skin  glowed  fresh  and  clear  from 
the  recent  bath.  His  close-cropped,  dark  hair  was  just 
beginning  to  be  grizzled  about  the  temples.  Of  the 
stern  martial  features  the  shaven  chin  alone  revealed 
traces  of  weakness. 

He  advanced  to  the  top  of  the  wide  marble  steps  with 
the  deliberate  dignity  of  a  Roman  patrician,  the  repre- 
sentative of  that  great  empire  which  had  enslaved  the 
world. 

Looking  down  at  the  whirl  of  hot  dark  passionate 
faces  below,  he  inquired, — 

"  What  accusation  bring  ye  against  this  man  ?  " 

An  indiscriminate  storm  of  yells  at  first  drowned  out 
all  efforts  at  reply,  but  finally  voices  could  be  heard, — 

"  If  he  were  not  a  malefactor  we  would  not  have 
delivered  him  unto  you !  " 

"  Take  ye  him,"  said  the  Procurator,  "  and  judge  him 
according  to  your  law." 

"  It  is  not  lawful,"  shouted  some,  "  for  us  to  put 
any  man  to  death ! "  And  others,  "  We  found  this 
fellow  perverting  the  nation  and  forbidding  to  give 
tribute  to  Caesar,  saying  that  he  himself  is  Christ  a 
king!" 

Pilate,  astute  in  politics,  perceived  that  this  noisy 


THE  PASSOVER  281 

demonstration  was  being  directed  by  some  crafty  mind, 
which  he  did  not  doubt  was  the  mind  of  Annas.  He 
perceived  clearly  the  purpose  to  force  upon  him  the 
odium  and  risk  of  this  judicial  murder  and  the  obliga- 
tion to  suppress  any  public  disorders  arising  in  conse- 
quence. 

He  was  but  newly  arrived  from  Caesarea  and  as  yet 
largely  uninformed  concerning  the  revolutionary  strug- 
gle, beyond  knowing  that  Jesus,  a  Nazarene  carpenter, 
was  the  head  of  a  faction  hostile  to  the  local  authorities. 
But  he  himself  as  Procurator  had  been  so  constantly 
harassed  by  the  scheming  statecraft  of  Annas  that  he 
inclined  to  favour  any  one  who  might  prove  a  thorn  in 
the  flesh  of  the  proud  ambitious  Pharisee. 

This  charge  that  Jesus  forbade  giving  tribute  to 
Cassar  and  aspired  to  kingship  could  not  be  ignored. 
Tiberius  the  emperor  was  insanely  distrustful,  keeping 
in  his  pay  hordes  of  spies  or  delatores,  who  reported 
the  least  suspicious  word  or  act  of  his  subordinates.  It 
was  not  safe  to  appear  careless. 

A  dubious  light  dwelt  in  the  Roman's  cold  grey  eyes 
as  he  withdrew  into  the  hall  of  judgment  and  summoned 
the  prisoner  before  him. 

"  Art  thou  the  king  of  the  Jews  ?  " 

"  Sayest  thou  this  thing  of  thyself,  or  did  others  tell 
it  of  me?" 

The  man  knew  how  to  defend  his  case.  His  spirit 
was  not  broken  by  that  fierce  clamour  outside  for  his 

blood. 

Pleased  by  the  well-guarded  answer,  the  Procurator 
smiled.  He  looked  more  attentively  at  the  thin,  strong, 


282  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

gentle  face  and  work-worn  body.  A  feeling  of  wonder, 
a  touch  of  admiration,  slightly  incredulous,  at  variance 
with  all  his  preconceived  ideas  of  the  ignoble  labouring 
class,  crept  over  him. 

"  Am  I  a  Jew !  "  he  retorted,  throwing  an  added  scorn 
into  the  exclamation  just  because  of  the  secret  sense 
of  respect  which  had  taken  him  unawares.  "  Thine 
own  nation  and  the  chief  priests  have  delivered  thee 
unto  me.  What  hast  thou  done  ?  " 

And  yet  his  tone  was  kindly. 

Thus  encouraged,  the  carpenter  seeing  that  the  Proc- 
urator was  not  unfriendly  to  him  answered  to  the 
charge, — 

"My  kingly  power24  is  not  from25  this  world.  If 
my  kingly  power  were  from  this  world,  then  would  my 
helpers  fight  that  I  should  not  be  delivered  to  the  Jews. 
But  indeed  my  kingly  power  is  not  from  here." 

Pilate's  astonishment  at  this  strange  answer  showed 
in  his  face. 

"  Art  thou  a  king,  then?  " 

"  Thou  sayest  that  I  am  a  king.  To  this  end  was 
I  born  and  for  this  cause  came  I  into  the  world, — 
that  I  should  bear  witness  unto  the  truth.  Everyone 
that  is  true  heareth  my  voice." 

Amused  disdain  curled  the  lip  of  the  sceptical  Ro- 
man. He  belonged  to  the  great  world-empire  of  might. 
But  he  was  now  persuaded  that  this  remarkable  artisan 
was  only  a  harmless  visionary, —  at  worst  a  madman. 

"  What  is  truth ! "  he  muttered,  turning  on  his  heel. 

He  went  out  again  to  the  steps  and  declared, — 

"  I  find  no  crime  26  in  this  man." 


THE  PASSOVER  283 

A  protesting  tumult  of  indignant  cries  assailed  his 
ears, — 

"He  stirreth  up  the  people, —  making  public 
speeches  27  throughout  all  Jewry,  beginning  from  Gali- 
lee to  this  place !  " 

Whereupon  Pilate,  eager  to  wash  his  hands  of  the 
whole  matter,  asked  quickly  if  the  man  were  a  Galilean. 

Learning  that  he  was,  the  Procurator  thought  to 
outwit  Annas  and  escape  from  the  troublesome  dilemma 
by  sending  the  prisoner  to  the  Galilean  Tetrarch,  who 
with  his  household  and  attendants  had  come  up  to  the 
Feast  and  lay  in  the  suburb  of  Bezetha  hard  by. 

But  the  Tetrarch  was  no  less  wary  than  Pilate. 

He  knew  that  the  people  yet  cursed  him  for  the  death 
of  John.  And  after  all,  the  seditious  activities  of 
Jesus  had  been  committed  as  much  within  the  borders 
of  Judea  as  within  his  own  domain.  So  he  declined  to 
assume  jurisdiction  of  the  prisoner  and  sent  him  back 
to  Pilate. 

Then  the  Procurator  tried  another  course.  He  knew 
that  Jesus  was  popular  with  the  lower  classes,  and  he 
was  not  yet  aware  how  thoroughly  the  lower  classes  had 
been  cowed  and  driven  into  hiding  for  the  moment  by  the 
capture  of  their  leader. 

He  came  out  again,  therefore,  upon  the  portico,  and 
had  all  the  prisoners  awaiting  judgment  brought  out 
also  from  the  hall. 

There  were  four  of  them :  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  Jesus 
Barabbas,  and  two  common  thieves. 

"  Ye  have  a  custom,"  said  he,  addressing  the  crowd, 
"that  I  should  release  unto  you  one  at  the  Passover. 


284  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

Will  ye  therefore  that  I  release  unto  you  the  King  of 
the  Jews?" 

Thus  he  denominated  the  Nazarene  in  derision, —  for 
it  was  his  part  to  make  light  of  the  matter,  to  show  the 
people  that  he  regarded  him  as  crackbrained.  And  in- 
deed it  was  a  ludicrous  thing, —  this  carpenter  aspiring 
to  a  royal  crown.  The  officers,  lictors,  attendants,  those 
that  grouped  about  the  doorway,  catching  their  master's 
humour  as  in  duty  bound,  cackled  with  obsequious 
laughter. 

The  four  prisoners  awaited  the  verdict  of  the  crowd. 

On  the  right  stood  this  man  of  the  common  life  and 
lifted  his  gentle,  work-furrowed  face  to  the  morning. 
His  wide,  dark  eyes  gazed  afar  off,  as  though  he  were 
unconscious  of  those  scowls  of  hate  below. 

At  his  side  clanked  in  iron  fetters  that  great  robber 
Barabbas,  lifting  undaunted  his  shaggy  head  and  smil- 
ing his  ferocious  smile. 

Unnoticed,  a  little  way  beyond  them,  cowered  the  two 
common  thieves,  whose  attacks  upon  the  property  of 
men  had  been  but  the  petty  filchings  of  mice,  not  com- 
parable to  the  extraordinary  designs  of  these  other  two. 

There  they  stood,  enemies  all  of  the  existing  order. 
The  sun,  above  the  roofs  of  Ophel,  rained  arrowy,  golden 
rays  against  the  grey  pillars  of  the  portico  and  burned 
with  rich  splendour  upon  the  curtain  of  imperial  purple 
which  hung  gently  swaying  across  the  doorway  behind. 

A  moment  yet  silence  reigned. 

Suddenly  from  out  the  crowd  a  voice,  sharp,  harsh, 
peculiarly  distinct,  sent  a  cry  shrilling  in  opposition  to 
the  Procurator's  expressed  preference, — 


THE  PASSOVER  285 

"  Not  this  man  but  Barabbas !  " 

It  was  in  vain  that  Pilate  cast  severe  looks  here  and 
there.  The  crowd  of  optimates  perceived  their  true 
enemy.  It  was  not  the  bloody-handed  robber,  but  the 
teacher  of  the  kingdom  of  brotherhood.  They  joined 
in  one  huge,  screaming  roar, — 

"  Not  this  man,  but  Barabbas ! " 

•  ••••••• 

At  the  verdict  so  overwhelmingly  expressed,  a  tall 
young  Babylonian  who  had  stood  amongst  the  foremost 
of  the  crowd,  at  the  very  foot  of  the  steps,  turned  with 
starting  eyeballs  and  horror-stricken  visage,  and  fled 
away. 

He  cleft  a  passage  through  the  bawling  mob,  stag- 
gered out  of  the  press  and  down  the  street,  and  fell  at 
last,  groaning,  upon  his  knees  against  a  wall. 

It  was  he  who  had  formerly  been  the  Prince  Hyr- 
canus. 

A  rush  of  light  had  blinded  him. 

When  the  fierce  clamour  of  a  thousand  throats  ac- 
claimed the  blood-stained  Barabbas,  it  had  seemed  to 
Hyrcanus  that  the  eyes  of  the  doomed  carpenter  had 
turned  and  sought  him  out  amid  the  crowd  at  the  foot 
of  the  steps  and  had  fixed  a  moment  gravely  and  lovingly 
upon  him. 

That  look  —  it  seemed  to  absorb  him  in  a  boundless, 
ocean-like  depth  of  divine  love,  —  a  love  which  sought 
to  drown  within  its  bosom  all  the  anguish  of  the  world. 

It  had  lifted  despair  from  his  heart  like  a  burden 
rolled  away.  It  had  freed  him  from  the  obligation  to 
shed  blood. 


THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

But  more:  in  the  sweetness  and  sorrow  and  courage 
of  those  eyes,  Hyrcanus  had  read  his  call  to  battle. 
War  was  to  be  his  lot  thenceforth, —  war  against  the 
rule  of  might  and  greed,  of  guile  and  fear,  that  op- 
pressed the  lowly  of  the  world. 

And  out  of  this  welter  of  events  flashed  also  upon 
him  a  confused  insight  into  the  meaning  of  that  seeming 
indecision,  that  timid  delay  of  action,  and  the  final 
surrender  at  Gethsemane. 

He  saw  now  that  Jesus  had  deliberately  rejected  the 
weapons  of  force  and  fear.  Against  the  sword  this 
lowly  carpenter  had  brought  forth  the  one  weapon  that 
could  win  the  world  for  the  peaceful  workers  —  the 
light  of  love  and  reason.  It  was  the  weapon  of  eternity. 
After  the  destruction  of  the  carpenter's  body,  this 
weapon  would  still  continue  the  war  for  the  freedom  of 
mankind. 

Unnerved  and  weak,  Hyrcanus  knelt  against  the  wall, 
groaning  and  beating  his  breast. 

And  while  he  knelt,  there  came  quietly  to  him  a  slender 
woman  in  a  peasant  garb,  who  knelt  and  slipped  her 
slim  hand  within  his. 

"  Bernice !  " 

"  Hyrcanus ! " 

They  looked  at  one  another  and  burst  into  a  flood  of 
tears. 


IX 

THE  attempt  of  Pilate  to  release  Jesus  as  a  harm- 
less madman  had  been  overborne  by  savage  cries 
of  "  Crucify  him !  —  Crucify  him !  "     And  while 
the  Procurator  still  resisted  the  clamour  of  the  mob, 
that  same  clear,  harsh  voice  of  peculiar  resonance,  which 
had  started  the  shouts   for  Barabbas,  came  shrilling 
again, — 

"  If  thou  let  this  man  go,  thou  art  not  Caesar's  friend ! 
Whosoever  maketh  himself  a  king  speaketh  against 
Cffisar!" 

It  seemed  to  the  Procurator  that  he  discerned  as  the 
origin  of  that  voice  an  elusive  figure  in  black  which 
slipped  rapidly  here  and  there  and  spoke  into  many 
ears. 

He  turned  pale.  Many  voices  were  now  repeating 
the  cry.  It  was  a  direct  threat,  horribly  ingenious ;  for 
although  he  writhed  in  spirit  at  the  insolent  audacity, 
he  dared  not  resent  it.  There  was  needed  but  a 
slightly  coloured  account  of  these  proceedings  to  the 
emperor  who,  gangrened  with  suspicions,  sat  upon  the 
throne  of  the  world,  lending  a  greedy  ear  to  his  delar 
tores, — and  Pilate  himself  was  lost. 

Coming  out  therefore,  he  seated  himself  in  the  ivory 
magisterial  chair  under  the  open  sky,  as  Roman  law 
required;  and  the  grim  farce  of  justice  concluded. 

287 


288  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

On  the  one  side  stood  ranged  all  the  leagued  masters 
of  the  land,  and,  back  of  them,  the  huge  shadow  of 
Caesar  looming  across  the  sea.  And  he,  Pilate,  who  sat 
in  judgment, —  what  was  he  with  all  his  pomp  and  cir- 
cumstance of  office,  his  jewelled  insignia,  his  lictors  and 
spearsmen, —  what  but  a  puppet  to  enact  the  will 
of  those  masters !  Nay,  the  very  law  which  they  in- 
voked was  theirs! 

On  the  other  side  —  this  absurd  apparition  from  the 
carpenter's  bench,  this  pitiful  champion  of  the  poor, 
who  had  stepped  forth  to  the  ludicrously  unequal  com- 
bat, challenging  all  masters  in  all  lands ! 

A  gleam  of  truth  at  which  he  had  scoffed  before  may 
have  touched  the  brooding  mind  of  Pilate.  He  waved 
his  hand  angrily  at  the  hooting  crowd. 

"Behold  your  King!" 

"  Away  with  him !  "  they  bawled,  thinking  of  their 
property  and  privileges  which  this  king  had  threatened. 
"  Away  with  him !  Crucify  him !  " 

Crucifixion  was  the  Roman  punishment  reserved  for 
rebellious  slaves  who  had  lifted  their  hands  against  their 
masters. 

"  Shall  I  crucify  your  King?  " 

"  We  have  no  King  but  Caesar ! " 

The  punishment  was  decreed. 

They  crowned  him  in  mockery  with  thorns  and  flung 
about  his  shoulders  a  piece  of  purple  cloth. 

Northward  along  the  broad  military  way  and  out  at 
the  Damascus  Gate  they  led  him  to  his  death  between 
the  common  thieves. 

The    legionaries    marched   briskly   to   the    clank    of 


THE  PASSOVER  289 

armour,  close-ranked  about  the  condemned  three  that 
bent  under  the  weight  of  the  heavy  crosses. 

And  now  venturing  forth  from  their  hiding  places 
at  last,  the  poor,  humble,  and  enslaved  lined  the  way  by 
hundreds.  They  wept  and  stretched  out  unavailing 
hands  towards  that  dumb  wretched  figure  of  their  King 
that  staggered  by  in  its  purple  rag  and  blood-trickling 
crown. 

Near  the  ancient  grotto  of  Jeremiah  beside  the  north- 
ern road,  on  a  knoll  which  was  the  traditional  Place  of 
Stoning,  they  set  up  the  crosses.  The  cliff  beneath 
the  knoll  bears  to  this  day  a  fantastic  semblance  of  a 
rotting  skull  —  the  hollow  eye-holes,  a  depression  for 
the  nose,  and  something  like  twisted  lips  of  decay.  The 
name  of  that  place  was  Golgotha. 

There  they  hung  the  champion  of  the  lowly,  between 
the  other  thieves.  They  nailed  to  the  wood  those  im- 
pious hands  which  had  dared  to  overthrow  the  money- 
tables. 

Pilate  had  caused  a  paper  to  be  prepared  in  Hebrew, 
Greek,  and  Latin,  whereon,  avenging  himself  against  the 
arrogant  Jews  who  had  forced  him  to  do  this  deed  for 
them,  he  recorded  his  ghastly  jest:  — 

"  JESTJS    OF    NAZARETH,    THE    KING    OF    THE    JEWS." 

It  was  more  than  a  jest;  —  it  was  his  justification 
for  this  act  to  his  master  at  Rome. 

In  vain  the  proud  chief  priests,  quivering  under  the 
insult  which  made  a  lowly  labourer  their  king,  besought 
Pilate  to  change  the  wording  of  the  legend.  The  paper 
remained  pinned  upon  the  cross. 


290  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

Throughout  the  long  day  the  humble  folk  wailed 
around  the  foot  of  the  hill,  as  near  the  cross  as  the 
line  of  soldiers  permitted. 

Amongst  those  kneeling  hundreds  knelt  one  who,  be- 
neath the  spectacle  of  this  sublimity  of  self-sacrifice, 
stripped  from  his  own  heart  all  greed  of  earthly 
dominion,  all  thought  of  special  privilege  over  his  fel- 
low men. 

And  beside  him  knelt  a  little  woman,  clinging  fast 
to  him  in  the  tossing  crowd. 

Night  crept  on. 

It  was  finished. 

Those  two  rose  up  together  and  walked  away,  hand 
in  hand.  They  walked  away  into  the  grey  world  of 
work,  to  fill  their  humble  place  among  the  fellowship. 


IT  was  the  ninth  hour.     At  last  the  strange,  dark 
clouds  which  had  overspread  the  earth  were  slowly 
i  •  fi  • 
lifting. 

On  the  Highpriest's  palace-roof,  in  the  Upper  City, 
stood  Caiaphas,  Annas,  and  also  a  third,  who  lurked 
half  hid  in  the  shadow  of  a  silken  canopy.  They  gazed 
steadily  across  the  housetops  to  the  north. 

The  three  tall  crosses  on  Golgotha  loomed  black 
against  the  grey  sky.  The  people  could  be  seen  swarm- 
ing dark  and  thick  like  ants  over  the  hill,  where  at 
moments  flickered  a  Roman  helmet. 

Caiaphas  exclaimed, — 

"  Still  that  vast  concourse  of  the  populace !  Hours 
have  gone  by,  and  still  we  behold  them  gathering  about 
the  spot!" 

"  The  Sabbath  is  at  hand,"  said  Annas  gently. 
"  God's  holy  day  draweth  near.  It  will  give  pause  to  all 
this  foolish  heat  and  passion." 

"  This  Roman  intervention  hath  struck  terror  to  their 
souls, —  but  they  growl  —  they  growl !  " 

"  Ere  the  morrow's  sun  set,  we  shall  see  an  end  of 
these  public  disorders,  I  trust." 

"  But  they  growl  openly  at  us  —  and  their  growling 
hath  somehow  a  changed  sound  of  hate  in  it,  methinks. 
A  voice  crieth  in  my  heart,  *  Beware ! '  Oh,  I  would 
that  some  hundred  of  the  man's  chief  helpers  were  hunted 

291 


292  THE  KING  WHO  CAME 

down  straightway  —  now  —  while  the  terror  of  his  death 
is  yet  upon  them ! " 

"  Too  precipitate  ever  art  thou.  A  needless  show  of 
force,  my  son,  is  like  a  flare  of  straw,  not  strength  but 
weakness." 

Caiaphas  paced  restlessly  to  and  fro  on  the  spacious 
housetop,  muttering  and  biting  his  nails.  His  aimless 
promenade  brought  him  at  last  to  the  corner  of  the 
parapet,  where  he  stopped  and  leaned  forth  to  gaze 
more  intently  at  the  distant  cross. 

Unawares  his  attitude  exposed  him  to  the  view  of 
the  people  below  in  the  street.  A  loud  hissing  and 
groaning  suddenly  ascended. 

He  drew  back.  His  plump  cheeks  went  red  and  white 
with  shame  and  wrath. 

"  Lo,  thou !  They  mutter  already  against  me  in  the 
streets!  We  are  become  a  by-word  and  a  hissing! 
Oh,  that  hydra  hath  left  many  heads !  But  we,  by  act- 
ing now,  ere  those  heads  grow  to  power  .  .  ." 

"  Not  heads,"  sighed  Annas,  "  but  thoughts  must  be 
struck  off.  And  thoughts  which  have  once  taken  root 
in  the  common  life  are  never  wholly  quenched  by  blood." 

"  Shall  we  then  not  stamp  out  the  remnants  of  this 
innovation ! " 

"  Nay,  my  son,  it  is  a  stupendous  task."  Annas 
stroked  his  beard  pensively.  The  milk-white  strands 
flowed  through  his  combing  fingers  like  a  waterfall.  He 
looked  at  that  distant  cross  against  the  sky  and  the  dark 
multitude  seething  below  it.  "  I  know  not,"  he  mut- 
tered. 

A  quiet  voice  spoke  out  of  the  shadow : 


THE  PASSOVER  293 

"  Fear  not,  Annas.     Thy  task  is  ended." 

"  What  meanest  thou,  Master? "  inquired  Annas 
softly  without  turning. 

"  These  other  heads  hold  but  a  feeble  glimmer  of 
that  light  thou  hast  put  out  yonder.  By  that  glimmer 
they  will  delude  all  men.  This  new  kingdom  which  but 
now  frighted  us  wellnigh  to  madness  —  this  new  king- 
dom which  was  proclaimed  to  the  poor,  will  be  trans- 
ferred—  whither,  thinkest  thou?  ...  To  the  grave! 
.  .  .  Ay,  out  of  this  revolt  itself  will  gradually  be  con- 
structed a  theology  of  abjection  for  the  poor.  They 
will  be  taught  to  submit,  to  bear  their  burdens,  and 
endure  their  wrongs  with  patience, —  in  the  belief  that 
death  will  readjust  the  inequitable  things  of  life ! " 

From  the  shadow  sounded  a  titter  of  low  laughter. 


NOTES 

1.—"  The  Ancient  Lowly/'  by  C.  Osborne  Ward. 

2. — "  The  Ancient  Lowly/'  by  C.  Osborne  Ward. 

8- — Matt,  v,  5.  oi  -imaxol  TW  Trvev/xan.  Literally, — "de- 
prived of  breath/' —  i.  e.,  exhausted.  Why  should 
the  translators  change  this  to  "  poor  in  spirit "? 

4« — Matt,  v,  5.  oi  Tr/jaeis.  From  ?rpavs,  tame,  subdued, 
low  (applied  to  sounds)  suppressed.  Why  should 
the  translators  use  the  word  "  meek  "  ?  It  seems 
rather  to  indicate  the  down-trodden,  the  oppressed, 
or  subjugated  class. 

5. —  Matt,  v,  6.  Tf\v  SucaHxrvw/v.  Everywhere  in  Xenophon 
and  other  Greek  writers,  outside  the  Bible,  the  word 
oWioo-w>7  is  necessarily  translated,  "  justice."  Why 
should  the  translators  of  the  Bible  change  it  to 
"righteousness/'  which  approximates  holiness? 

6. —  Matt,  v,  8.  oi  KaOapol  TTJ  Kap8ia.  Literally, — "  pruned 
as  to  the  heart."  From  nadaipw,  to  clear  by  prun- 
ing. Obviously  it  means  those  whose  hearts  have 
been  cleansed  of  old  dead  ideas  and  false  opinions. 
Perhaps  "  progressive  "  would  be  the  right  word. 

7. —  Matt,  v,  9.  oi  et/^voTToioi.  Literally, — "  peace-me- 
chanics." From  elpyvt],  peace,  and  Troie'w,  to  work, 
labour,  make.  Matthew  uses  the  verb  iroUta  in  xx,  12, 
to  mean  the  labour  performed  by  hired  hands  in  the 
vineyard.  The  "  peace  "  is  used  apparently  to  dis- 
tinguish from  those  whose  employment  is  war. 

8. —  Matt,  v,  10.  oi  BfSuayfuvoi  evcxev  8uccuoow»7«.  Liter- 
ally,— "those  malignantly  pursued  as  regards  jus- 
tice." 

295 


296  NOTES 

9. —  Matt,  v,  20.  ctcreA^re.  From  etcre'/j^o/wtt,  to  break 
into,  rush  into,  come  into  by  force. 

10. —  Luke  xviii,  24.  SucncoAws.  From  Sus,  an  inseparable 
particle  denoting  what  is  ill,  difficult,  grievous ;  and 
KoAov,  food.  Hence:  "squeamishly,  peevishly,  re- 
luctantly." 

11. —  Luke  iv,  18.  cuxftaAwToi.  From  alxfj-r),  spear-point; 
and  dA.o>Tos,  taken.  Hence:  "taken  by  the  spear, 
captives."  The  Roman  world-conquest  was  just 
completed,  filling  the  markets  with  hordes  of  pris- 
oners sold  into  slavery.  The  right  word  therefore 
would  seem  to  be,  "  slaves." 

12. —  Luke  xix,  13.  irpayiuiTcvaaaOf..  "Be  occupied  with, 
keep  busy  with." 

13. —  John  xii,  30.  ^>wi^/.  Literally, — "  sound,  roaring, 
rumbling."  See  Revelations  iv,  5;  viii,  5,  where 
the  same  word  is  used  by  John  to  indicate  simply  the 
noise  of  thunder,  not  a  "  voice." 

14. —  John  xii,  31.     Kpims.     Literally, — "crisis." 

15. —  John  xii,  31.  apxa>v-  Literally, — "one  who  begins, 
is  foremost ;  "  hence :  "  chief  or  ruler,  a  person  in- 
vested with  power  and  dignity,  a  person  of  rank 
and  influence."  There  is  no  authority  in  the  use 
of  this  word  by  Greek  writers  for  confining  it  to 
"  prince."  It  would  seem  more  properly  to  apply 
to  the  ruling  power  or  class,  whatever  guise  that 
power  might  take. 

16. —  John  xii,  32.  v\f/w6w  IK  TTJS  y???.  Literally, — "raised 
from  the  soil."  Hence :  "  elevated  from  a  humble 
station  to  a  place  of  dignity  or  prosperity."  See 
Matt,  xi,  23,  where  the  verb  is  undoubtedly  used 
in  this  sense.  Why  translate  it  otherwise  here? 


NOTES  297 

Also  see  Matt,  xiii,  5,  where  the  noun  is  used  simply 
to  mean  "  soil,"  not  the  whole  earth. 

Is  not  the  simple  meaning,  that  if  Jesus  pros- 
pered in  his  attempt  to  set  up  the  new  kingdom,  he 
would  not  rise  alone,  but  all  men  should  share 
equally  with  him  in  the  gain? 

17. —  Luke  iv,  18.  euayyeAi£ecr0ai  TTTW^OI?.  Literally, — 
"  good  news  to  those  in  poverty,  to  those  destitute  of 
the  necessaries  of  life." 

18. —  Luke  iv,  18.  IdaaaOai  Toi>«  orvreiyH^j&cvovs  ryv  Kapbiav. 
Literally, — "  to  heal  or  free  from  evils  those  rubbed- 
together  or  depressed  as  to  the  heart."  In  Luke 
ix,  39,  the  verb  trwrpifiia  is  used  in  the  sense  of  de- 
priving of  strength,  debilitating.  Hence:  the 
proper  meaning  would  seem  to  be,  to  heal  the  dis- 
couraged, restore  their  hopes  and  courage. 

19. —  Matt,  xxi,  32.  cv  6S<5  8wccuoow>7«.  Literally, — "in  a 
way  leading  to  justice,  in  the  cause  of  justice." 

20. —  Mark  xii,  14.  ov  ya/o/JAeVeis  ets  irpoaanrov  dvfywirwv. 
Literally, — "  thou  lookest  not  on  the  face  of  men." 
Hence,  obviously,  in  such  context,  the  meaning  is, 
that  Jesus  was  not  seeking  the  popular  approval, 
—  did  not  shape  his  opinions  by  what  he  thought 
the  public  would  applaud, —  was  not  a  demagogue. 

21. — "  There  is  a  story  of  Judas  Iscariot,  that  he  was  the 
regular  lamias  of  the  earliest  Christian  brother- 
hood and  that  he  protested  against  the  use  of  the 
costly  alabaster  to  anoint  the  feet  of  the  Jcuriot 
with  well-known  results;  and  his  fate  for  fidelity 
caused  the  formation  of  the  society  of  Cainites. 
The  Cainites  remained  as  an  organisation  for  about 
two  centuries  and  were  treated  as  heretics.  Prac- 


298  NOTES 

tical  eranists,  they  believed  that  Judas  was  right." 
—  The  Ancient  Lowly,  by  C.  Osborne  Ward,  Vol. 
II,  page  135,  footnote;  Kerr's  edition. 

22. —  Kenan's  Life  of  Jesus. 

23. —  Philo,  "  Legatio  ad  Caium,"  Sec.  38.  Josephus, 
"  Wars  of  the  Jews,"  ii,  xiv,  8. 

24. —  John  xviii,  36.  fiaaiXtla,  "kingdom,  realm;  kingly 
power,  authority,  dominion,  reign ;  royal  dignity,  the 
title  and  honor  of  king." —  W.  Greenfield's  Poly- 
micrian  Greek  Lexicon  to  the  New  Testament. 

The  word  seems  to  be  used  generally  in  the  New 
Testament,  in  a  more  personal  or  human  sense  than 
is  denoted  by  mere  geographical  division. 

25. —  John  xviii,  37.  «,  "  out  of,  out  from,"  as  a  source 
or  cause. 

26. —  Luke  xxiii,  4.  airiov.  The  word  is  derived  from 
atria,  cause,  motive,  incitement;  accusation,  crime. 
It  should  be  translated  "  crime "  rather  than 
"  fault,"  because  it  carries  with  it  the  meaning  of 
a  breach  of  law. 

27. —  Luke  xxiii,  5.  StSaovcwv.  The  verb  StSao-Ku  is  used 
by  ancient  writers  to  mean  not  only  "  to  teach, 
instruct,"  but  also  "  to  speak  in  a  public  assembly." 

28. —  Kenan's  Life  of  Jesus. 


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